Top court calls for protection, restoration of cultural relics

China's top court has reiterated the need to strongly crack down on acts that damage cultural relics, urging judges to use legal avenues to ensure the restoration of relics and their surrounding environments.

The Supreme People's Court and the National Cultural Heritage Administration jointly released five notable cases on Friday, demonstrating their commitment to intensifying the protection and management of cultural relics through the rule of law to preserve and promote the country's traditional culture.

"Cultural relics embody civilization, preserve historical culture, and uphold the national spirit. They are valuable heritage left by our ancestors and contribute to the strengthening of socialist spiritual civilization," the top court said, revealing that Chinese courts have handled over 17,000 cases related to cultural relics since 2015.

In one disclosed case, a man surnamed Wang, along with five others, was found to have excavated ancient tombs in November 2020 in Xuyi county, Jiangsu province, and Tianchang city, Anhui province. The stolen mirrors and bronze swords were identified as cultural relics dating from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).

While the case was being processed and the cultural relics involved were being recovered, the Xuyi museum also funded an archaeological rescue excavation of the looted ancient tombs. Wang was sentenced to 10 years and three months in prison and fined by the court in Xuyi for the crime of excavating ancient tombs. Additionally, he was ordered to reimburse the museum for the over 70,000 yuan ($9,828) it had spent on the rescue excavation. The remaining five defendants were also penalized for the same charge, the court said.

The top court highlighted the ruling and agreed to continue with harsh punishment for those who damage or disrupt the management of cultural relics. "Ancient tombs, as an important category of cultural relics, serve as crucial carriers for the continuation of historical civilization and possess significant historical, artistic, and scientific value," the top court said.

It noted that Wang's acts not only caused serious damage to the tombs themselves but also harmed the natural and cultural environment surrounding the heritage. Therefore, in addition to imposing criminal penalties on him, it was reasonable and lawful to require him to pay for the costs of the salvage excavation.

"This ruling has reflected the judiciary's commitment to using the most severe measures to combat cultural relics crimes, thereby tightening the protective net for the safety of cultural heritage," it added.

Furthermore, it also called for the full and effective utilization of cultural relics through legal means, transforming them into industrial museums, research and study centers, and patriotic education bases to help educate the public.