China Bolsters Law on Cultural Relic Theft and Destruction

Three law enforcement departments and the National Cultural Heritage Administration released a document Monday regarding the enforcement of crimes such as tomb robbery and relic resale, extending the rules to cover attempted crime and clarifying which actions would result in criminal liability.

The official opinion (link in Chinese) made clear that people who committed attempted robbery or excavation of ancient cultural sites and tombs or attempted the theft of immovable cultural relics by destructive means at sites protected by national or provincial units should be held criminally accountable.