New Revision of China’s Marine Environmental Protection Law

What is it about?

China’s Marine Environmental Protection Law was first adopted in August 1982 and came into force on 1 March 1983, and since then, it has gone through two “amendments” and three “revisions”. The latest amendment in 2023 reflects China’s determination to further strengthen the protection of the marine environment and to prepare itself to meet new challenges and needs. This short article first provides a brief historical background of the Law, then evaluates some key changes in the 2023 amendment, and finally, highlights some features of the changes and pinpoints some concerns remaining in the Law even after the amendment.

Featured Image