In the annals of international investment, SCC Arbitration V (061/2007) will be remembered as a case study in how not to do business in China.

Technically, the “partial award” judgment handed down by a Swedish arbitration tribunal on September 30 was a victory for Danone over Zong Qinghou, the French food group's Chinese joint venture partner since 1996 and founder of beverage-maker Wahaha Group.

Many of Danone's claims against Mr Zong were not upheld, including an allegation he defrauded their joint venture. But a three-member tribunal convened by the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce's Arbitration Institute ruled that he had breached confidentiality and non-competition agreements – allegations that the self-made billionaire categorically denied.