Recovering relics requires diplomacy, law

To retrieve cultural relics that were looted and are now overseas, the Chinese government and the people should maintain a rational attitude, said Xie Xinsheng, an international law expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The best way to repatriate the artifacts is to pursue a strategy that combines both legal and diplomatic efforts, he said.

A combined effort with other countries in a similar position is the best course of action he believes, and he suggests that China should first strengthen its cooperation with other countries like Italy or Egypt, which have similar claims.

China should also strengthen its laws and regulations so as to combat domestic theft and smuggling, and the illegal excavation of cultural relics within its borders, as this will also help win support when China continues its repatriation work overseas, Xie wrote in a paper, named International Law Issues Relating to Repatriation of Chinese Royal Cultural Relics looted Overseas.