China's draft law strengthens Antarctic activities and environmental protection

Individuals or departments will be held responsible for any damage, relocation, or removal of historic sites or monuments in Antarctica, according to an official from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body.

Huang Haihua, the spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, highlighted that the latest version of a draft law focused on Antarctic activities and environmental protection includes provisions to safeguard the rights and interests of Chinese citizens, legal entities, and organizations operating in Antarctica, while also enhancing legal accountability for any harm or unauthorized alterations to Antarctic historic sites or monuments.

The draft law is set to undergo a third review by the NPC Standing Committee during its upcoming session in Beijing, which is scheduled to open on Monday.

In this latest draft, Huang said that China is committed to establishing and refining its Antarctic expedition system, as well as enhancing the management and regulation of activities related to Antarctic expeditions.

Moreover, under the draft, the country will coordinate the direction of Antarctic scientific research, aligning with the development needs of Antarctic initiatives. It will also support and guide relevant entities to conduct Antarctic expeditions and related scientific research in a lawful and orderly manner, he noted.

Additionally, the new draft version improves the system for submitting samples and data collected during Antarctic expeditions, Huang added.