Rio Tinto employees' trial opens Monday

The four executives of the multinational mining and resource group were detained last summer following allegations that they stole state secrets from China’s government-controlled iron and steel industry.

As per the charges filed in August last year, the four employees, including Australian executive Stern Hu, were accused of commercial bribery and infringement of trade secrets.

Trial to be watched closely
The trail will be carefully followed by those who have set up business operations or have plans of conducting business in the world's third-largest economy.

“People who have any intentions of doing business there have to watch this. There's an extra component of anxiety when you buy Chinese stocks. The 'what if' is always there." -- Jeff Mindlin, whose investment fund invests in companies doing business in China

In fact, it is a litmus test for those weighing the possibility of doing business in China.

Jeff Mindlin, whose investment fund invests in companies doing business in the country, told post-gazette.com, “People who have any intentions of doing business there have to watch this.

There's an extra component of anxiety when you buy Chinese stocks. The 'what if' is always there."

The trail also comes at a time when the business sentiment is against the country.

Currently it is being speculated that the Internet search giant, Google, is planning to end business operations in the country, following failure to reach consensus with the Chinese officials over censorship issue.

Closed hearing
The hearing of the case will be held in a closed court, the Chinese officials have confirmed.

Though the Australian government had requested its officials to attend the trial, China has informed Australia's embassy in Beijing that it will not allow access to the proceedings.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia said in a statement, "The Government's disappointment with the decision has been registered with Chinese officials in Beijing and Canberra.

"The Australian Government does not propose to make further representations on this matter."

Officials warn against politicizing trial
The case could strain relations between China and Australia, which is a key supplier of bulk commodity to China's steel industry.

In order to ensure that the case does not adversely impact their relationship, China has warned against deliberate politicizing of the trail.

In a statement, Qin Gang, spokesman of foreign ministry, said, “It is just an individual business case. It should not be politicized or bring a negative impact on Australia and China relations."

The accused employees have not been allowed any public comment since the time they have been arrested.