Abstract

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Author(s):: LIU Li-na; School of law, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, Shaanxi, China

Keywords:: ; Underwater Cultural Heritage; the South China Sea; Cooperation Scheme

Abstract:: The significance of South China Sea results from not only the long-standing international shipping transiting, natural resources, but also the extensive and various types of underwater cultural heritages (UCH) sunk beneath it. These shipwrecks, submerged ancient cities, ports preserve regional history and maritime civilization. This paper first highlights in part I the current legal protection for UCH in 6 states of the South China Sea. Part II analyses the necessity of regional cooperation protection for UCH in SCS. In Part III, author proposes to build up a cooperation mechanism for joint UCH development in the SCS region, which is for peaceful settlement of the potential UCH dispute and profitable improvement to the relationship among these states around the South China Sea. It is valuable and effective to establish a regional legal instrument for these states, by means ofthe UCH reporting and notification system and UCH coordination states scheme, etc.