China to restructure oceanic administration, enhance maritime law enforcement

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- China plans to restructure the country's top oceanic administration to enhance maritime law enforcement and better protect and use its oceanic resources.

The move will bring China's maritime law enforcement forces, currently scattered in different ministries, under the unified management of one single administration, according to a report to be delivered by State Councilor Ma Kai at the annual parliamentary session on Sunday.

The new agency, still named National Oceanic Administration (NOA), will have under its control the coast guard forces of the Public Security Ministry, the fisheries law enforcement command of the Agriculture Ministry, and the maritime anti-smuggling police of the General Administration of Customs. The NOA used to only have one maritime law enforcement department, China Marine Surveillance.

The move aims at solving the problems of low efficiency in maritime law enforcement, improving protection and use of oceanic resources, and better safeguarding the country's maritime rights and interests, according to the report.

The proposed administration, under the Ministry of Land and Resources, will carry out law enforcement activities in the name of China maritime police bureau and under the operational direction of the Ministry of Public Security.

Apart from law enforcement, other functions of the new administration include outlining oceanic development plan, supervising and managing the use of sea waters, and protecting oceanic environment, the report says.

A high-level consultation and coordinating body, the National Oceanic Commission, will also be set up to formulate oceanic development strategies and coordinate important oceanic affairs, according to the report.

The specific work of the commission will be carried out by the new NOA, the report says.