In the light of the complaint against PetroChina, which will be discussed at the Global Compact Board meeting on July 24, 2009, it is important to understand the intricate nature of China's state owned enterprises (SOEs). In the communications between the group of civil organizations that filed the complaint and the Global Compact Board it has been questioned whether PetroChina and its parent company CNPC are separate corporate entities. This fundamental question needs to be answered before any responsibility or accountability for misconduct can be established.