Chinese authorities seize equipment from South Korean retail giant Lotte as tensions over missile defence shield continue
Beijing authorities claim latest incident targeting the supermarket chain was motivated purely by concerns about power conservation
Chinese authorities have confiscated dozens of items of machinery from two supermarkets owned by South Korea’s retail giant Lotte Group – the latest move that threatens business links between the two nations, which are currently locked in a diplomatic stand-off.
Inspectors from the Beijing Development and Reform Commission have seized 23 pump motors and four power transformers from two Lotte Mart stores in the capital city in the wake of a special crackdown on energy consumption, Beij ing Evening News reported.
The equipment, which the authorities said failed to meet the city’s power conservation standards, will be dismantled and all the components will go under the hammer, the report added.
The proceeds from the auction are expected to be remitted to the state treasury.
The Chinese authorities said the inspection was part of citywide efforts to force companies to improve energy efficiency.