China seized a Japanese ship on Monday over pre-World War II debt.
A Chinese court has ordered the seizure as compensation for the loss of two ships leased from a Chinese company before the two countries went to war in 1937 of the 226,434-ton Baosteel Emotion. (National Post)
The BBC reported:
China’s seizure of a Japanese cargo ship over a pre-war debt could hit business ties, Japan’s top government spokesman has warned.
Shanghai Maritime Court said it had seized the Baosteel Emotion, owned by Mitsui OSK Lines, on Saturday.
It said the seizure related to unpaid compensation for two Chinese ships leased in 1936.
The Chinese ships were later used by the Japanese army and sank at sea, Japan’s Kyodo news agency said.
“The Japanese government considers the sudden seizure of this company’s ship extremely regrettable,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Monday.
“This is likely to have, in general, a detrimental effect on Japanese businesses working in China.”
