Chinese trade ship Tek Sing sank off the Indonesian coast 200 year ago, taking 1600 people and 350,000 pieces of blue and white porcelain with it.

What eventually became known as the ‘Titanic of the East’ laid untouched until 1999, when British divers found the wreck in the Gaspar Strait, setting off global auctions for much of the porcelain taken from the ship.

But 333 Tek Sing porcelains were to be returned to the Indonesian government by Australia in a ceremony in Canberra on Wednesday.

The latest objects were looted from a subsequent dive and found by authorities in Perth when advertised for sale online.

The return is being done under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act, which supports the repatriation of foreign cultural property that has been illegally exported from other countries.

“These items should never have left Indonesia and been offered for sale. They belong with Indonesian cultural authorities so they can be properly preserved,” Arts Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.

“By returning these items to Indonesia we also honour those who lost their lives in this disaster.”

It’s the second return of Chinese porcelain objects to Indonesia from the wreck, which sunk in February 1822.

Many of the ceramics from the initial salvage expedition were seized by the Australian government and returned in 2001.

Wednesday’s ceremony at the Indonesian Embassy is also being held on the anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia.

The federal government said the return reflected Australia’s long history of cooperation and friendship with Indonesia, and the nation’s commitment to protecting and safeguarding the world’s movable cultural heritage.

– AAP