U.S. Returns 38 Cultural Objects to China

By Joel Wong

The U.S. has returned 38 Chinese cultural artifacts to China, which were looted and smuggled into America, emphasizing efforts to combat antiquities trafficking and promote international cooperation.

Details:

• The U.S. returned 38 looted Chinese cultural artifacts to China, including relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
• Efforts by the Antiquities Trafficking Unit in New York led to the prevention of these artifacts from being sold illegally.
• The artifacts, valued collectively at around half a million dollars, were verified and repatriated in cooperation with China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration.
• Ongoing initiatives led by authorities aim to combat antiquities smuggling and return stolen artifacts worldwide.
• The repatriation highlights international cooperation despite tensions between the U.S. and China.

On another note: The British Museum contains a large number of Chinese artifacts.

Estimates suggest the collection holds around 23,000 Chinese artifacts, spanning China’s entire history.
Only about 2,000 artifacts are on long-term display in the museum.

Origin of the Collection:

The origins of some artifacts might be controversial, with some acquired during colonial times.
There are ongoing debates about the restitution of some artifacts to China.

Here are some resources for further exploration:

British Museum – China:  This page details the collection and its historical significance.
British Museum thefts: Chinese state newspaper calls for the return of cultural relics (The Art Newspaper):