[frithguild]

You need to get familiar with the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies of 1967.

[OPS4]

Article:
Asteroid Mining: Key to the Space Economy
by Mark Sonter, National Space Society
Date: 09 February 2006 Time: 06:51 AM ET
http://www.space.com/2032-asteroid-mining-key-space-economy.html

[OPS4]

You need to read it, As I said Private companies and citizens have the right to mine them irregardless of the treaty
Read it here.
http://books.google.com/books?id=KutVoTerSxsC&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98&dq=Who+governs+space+mining&source=bl&ots=uUdbi_D1iF&sig=rccSkVkP_OcegLBDKveG6nrfnt0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=BSkkT7WRJqXm0QGF-vWECQ&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Who%20governs%20space%20mining&f=false

[Venturer]

Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies of 1967.

I have no idea what that is or what it means, but I am sure China isn’t going to lose any sleep over keeping it’s covenants.