China detains chairman of oil company

SHANGHAI, China - The chairman of a Chinese private oil company association has been detained for suspected economic crimes, a company controlled by the tycoon said Tuesday.

Gong Jialong, chairman of the Great United Petroleum Holding Co., was detained by police amid an investigation into unspecified economic crimes, Tianfa Petroleum Co. said in an announcement posted on the Web site of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

The notice said authorities had taken "coercive measures" against Gong, who is Tianfa's biggest shareholder.

Tianfa, one of China's biggest private oil corporations, said the company's operations were not affected by Gong's situation.