The legislature passed an underwater cultural heritage protection law on Tuesday to preserve the rich cultural treasures in Taiwan’s surrounding waters.
Kuomintang legislator Chiu Wen-yen spoke on Tuesday about the new law.
“Today, the legislature passed the Underwater Cultural Heritage Protection Law, in accordance with the spirit of the [UNESCO] Convention [on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage]. We take on the responsibility to protect this important heritage," said Chiu. "The law not only abides by the international convention’s principles. It also establishes management systems for heritages, applications, reviews, research, reporting, investigation, repair, preservation, filing, international cooperation, and protection areas. The law also emphasizes the importance of environmental protection education.”
The culture ministry says there are 79 identified heritages under Taiwan’s surrounding waters. Among them, 15 have been identified as wrecked ships.