Announcement of Interpretation No. 9 [2003] of the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China on the Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court on Several Issues concerning the Specific Application of Law in the Trial of Criminal Cases on Illegal or Destructive Mining.

In order to punish the criminal activities of illegal and destructive mining, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Criminal Law, several issues concerning the specific application of law in the trial of such criminal cases are interpreted by the Supreme People's Court. The Text consists of 9 Articles.
Whoever conducts illegal mining under any of the circumstances as prescribed in Article 1 in violation of the provisions of the Mineral Resources Law and refuses to stop mining after it is ordered to do so, resulting in any damage to mineral resources, shall be convicted and punished for the crime of illegal mining in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 1, Article 343 of the Criminal Law. Such circumstances include:　　 (1) Engaging in mining without a mining permit. (2) Entering without authorization a mining area under state planning, a mining area of great value to the national economy or a mining area of any other person. (3) Engaging without authorization in the mining of a special mineral which is subject to protective excavation as prescribed by the state.