China fines Muji for packaging that lists Taiwan as a country

RYOHIN KEIKAKU

24/05/2018 02:14

SHANGHAI, May 24 (Reuters) - Japanese retailer Muji has been
fined 200,000 yuan ($31,300) in Shanghai for using packaging
that lists Taiwan as a country, underscoring China's growing
sensitivity to how companies refer to the self-ruled island. 
    Muji, which is owned by Ryohin Keikaku Co  7453.T , imported
 119 clothes hangers from Japan last year in packaging that
marked Taiwan as the "country of origin", the Shanghai
Administration for Industry and Commerce said in a statement.
    This violated Chinese advertising law which warns against
hurting China's dignity and interest, said the statement, which
was published last month but reported by Chinese media on
Wednesday. 
    Muji did not immediately respond to an email requesting
comment. 
    The regulator said Muji had since changed the packaging and
made corrections. 
($1 = 6.3875 Chinese yuan)

 (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
 ((brenda.goh@thomsonreuters.com; +86 (0) 21 6104 1763; Reuters
Messaging: brenda.goh.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))