Beijing: China’s Foreign Ministry has quashed reports that the Japanese bulker seized by the Shanghai Maritime Court was taken because of outstanding World War II debts. The Baosteel Emotion VLOC, owned by Mitsui OSK Lines, was arrested over a “regular business contract dispute” a spokesman for the ministry said. Earlier missives from the maritime court had cited MOL’s failure to respond to a compensation order stemming from a 1930s contract dispute.
“This case is not related to the issue of wartime compensation,” the ministry spokesperson stressed.
The Baosteel Emotion was impounded on April 19 at Majishan port in Zhejiang province over a long running case about unpaid charter rates to a Chinese company.
http://www.sinoshipnews.com/News/Beijing-pours-cold-water-on-WWII-ship-seizure-claims-/3w3c2589.html
