China Detains Staff From Three Oil Refiners Probed for Tax Evasion

Authorities have detained staff at three privately-owned local oil-refining giants in the Liaoning province of Northeastern China in an escalation of a tax evasion dispute that comes amid a broader government probe of the sector.

The companies — Panjin North Asphalt Fuel Co. Ltd., Liaoning Bora Biological Energy Co. Ltd., and Panjin Haoye Chemical Co. Ltd. — were found to have evaded fuel consumption taxes by faking invoices and changing the names of their products and facilities, according to a notice (link in Chinese) published by the State Taxation Administration (STA) on Wednesday.