Zeitschrift für Ozeanographie und Meeresforschung
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Getting into a New Maritime Era?-A Commentary on the Restructuring of the State Oceanic Administration in China.

Yen-Chiang Chang

State Oceanic Administration, China has recently experienced an enormous restructuring. The Marine Surveillance, the China Coast Guard, the China Fishery and the Customs Anti-contraband Policemen are now integrated into a unified new State Oceanic Administration, carrying out law enforcement activities under the name of the China Coast Guard, and operating under the guidance of the Ministry of Public Security. This is a big step forward toward a more holistic approach to ocean governance. It is vital step for China to establish a comprehensive marine law enforcement body and to distribute the duties more efficiently and clearly. The new State Oceanic Administration should further strengthen the relationship between the central and local governments and could also comprehensively plan marine affairs so that the various bodies could be clearer regarding their respective functions. It is necessary to pass legislation to clarify the legal status of the new China Coast Guard, specify its maritime criminal law enforcement power in order to exercise criminal investigation, and specific administrative law enforcement powers.