The culture of giving and receiving payments is ingrained in China. On the other hand accepting and paying bribes is a violation of Rio Tinto's code of conduct. When does a payment stop being a gift and turn into a bribe?
The smaller Chinese steel companies bribed the Rio Tinto executives because of Rio Tinto's policy of only dealing with large state-run steel companies. Can a business policy, such as giving priority to only one set of firms, be unethical? Is Rio Tinto ethically responsible for the bribes that were given to its employees because of its policy?
What lessons should be taken from these convictions:
What for foreign governments?
What for corporations trading in and with China?
What for individual employees?
What for possible investors in China?
Should Rio Tinto have been charged?