Reclaiming land to be restricted

Business-motivated conversion of marine areas will be prohibited

China will halt and prohibit all business-oriented land reclamation activities and abolish local governments' authority over the matter in the strictest-ever control over reclamation, according to the State Oceanic Administration.

Lin Shanqing, deputy director of the administration, said on Wednesday that the government will nationalize reclaimed land with no structures built on it and will halt reclamation projects that have yet to be opened and are against national policies.