WikiLeaks cables have revealed that BHP Billiton Ltd's
(ASX:BHP) CEO Marius Kloppers was keen to trade secrets with the US and feared espionage from China, Rio Tinto Ltd
(ASX:RIO) and the Australian government, according to a Fairfax Media report.
From June 2009 Mr Kloppers held confidential discussions with US consul-general Michael Thurston and offered to trade information with US diplomas to uncover China’s intentions, according to revealed meeting notes leaked to Fairfax.
In the subsequent discussions, Mr Kloppers is also believed to have taken credit for derailing China’s state-owned Chinalco's $23.9 billion planned investment in Rio Tinto.
Fairfax says that Mr Kloppers said BHP had won a strategic victory in persuading the federal government to ''draw a line in the sand' to prevent future large-scale Chinese investment in the Australian resource industry.
Shortly after, both Rio and BHP announced a proposed $116 billion joint venture to tie-up their iron ore operations in Western Australia.
Fairfax says that BHP Billiton has declined to comment.
In the year to 30 June 2010, BHP generated a net profit of $15.3 billion
