CIL Dialogues is the re-imagination of the existing blog of the Centre for International Law (CIL) of the National University of Singapore (NUS). The editorial team’s approach to CIL Dialogues reflects two shared commitments. First, we share a generalist perspective of international law, viewed as raising shared foundational questions across specialised fields, institutions, regions, and inquiries. Secondly, we are appreciative that CIL Dialogues is not based in (the virtual space of), or associated with institutions in the ‘Western European and Others States Group’. The blog will therefore be interested in international law broadly conceived and seek to be attentive to regional perspectives to questions of universal and general relevance, particularly relating to Asia Pacific, as well as the views and voices that may have been traditionally excluded. More...
Featured Symposium ...
NORI and TOML v. International Seabed Authority: Attempt to Undermine UNCLOS and Other Rules of International Law? By Dominique Virgil Published on 17 June 2026 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of any institution. On 30 May 2026, Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) and …
A new International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships By Shani Friedman Published on 15 June 2026 Introduction In May 2026, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted a new International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS Code, or the Code). The new legal framework, which will be in effect from …
A new International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Read More »
Overlapping Maritime Claims in the Gulf of Thailand: The Second Case of Compulsory Conciliation under UNCLOS? By Dr. Trung Nguyen & Dr. Tara Davenport Published on 14 May 2026 On 5 May 2026, Thailand announced that it has cancelled the longstanding 2001 Memorandum of Understanding with Cambodia regarding the area of their overlapping maritime claims …
Filling the Gap in Liability and Compensation for Alternative Fuel Spills from Ships By Joel Ong, Centre for International Law, NUS (formerly) LLM Candidate, Harvard Law School (present) jong@llm26.law.harvard.edu The shipping industry is betting big on alternative fuels for its energy transition. Based on the 2024 orderbook, over 1700 vessels have been ordered with alternative …
Filling the Gap in Liability and Compensation for Alternative Fuel Spills from Ships Read More »
The Prospect of a Fragmented Legal Regime of Mining of Seabed Mineral Resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone By Digvijay Rewatkar Published on 7 April 2025 Introduction As the politics of climate change oscillates between its striking effects and denialism, the global energy, technological industry and minerals supply chains have been under a shift. For …
International Fisheries as the ‘Whale in the Room’ at the BBNJ Negotiations By Dr Ethan Beringen Published on 11 March 2025 The successful conclusion of the negotiations for the new treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) was a significant achievement in international law making. This is especially …
International Fisheries as the ‘Whale in the Room’ at the BBNJ Negotiations Read More »
The 2023 IMO Assembly Resolution enables States to challenge the ‘Dark Fleet’ that threatens the marine environment By Robert Beckman, Trung Nguyen and Joel Ong Jie Hao Published on 18 March 2024 Disclaimer: This blog post is supported by the MPA-CIL Oceans Governance Research Programme funded by the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI-2023-MA-03). At its thirty-third …
Prof Robert Beckman’s Reply to CIL Dialogues’ Blog Post by Mohd Hazmi Mohd Rusli of 7 August 2023 By Professor Robert Beckman Published on 14 August 2023 Reply and Rejoinder to “Prioritizing the Marine Environment: A Possible Malaysian Recharacterization of the Strait of Malacca to Regulate the Passage of Nuclear-Powered Submarines” Mohd Hazmi Mohd Rusli …
Japan-Pacific Islands Countries Cooperation on Maritime Law Enforcement By Yurika Ishii Published on 14 August 2023 1. Introduction On 16 May 2023, Japan signed and exchanged Notes on the Project for Strengthening Capacity of Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies for Effective Maritime Crime Control in the Pacific Island Countries with Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the …
Japan-Pacific Islands Countries Cooperation on Maritime Law Enforcement Read More »
What’s Next if the South China Sea Code of Conduct Negotiations Fail? By Aristyo Rizka Darmawan Published on 12 June 2023 The ASEAN-China South China Sea Code of Conduct (CoC) negotiations have resumed and picked up pace after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions eased. Despite the optimistic statements expressed by ASEAN leaders and that Indonesia as …
What’s Next if the South China Sea Code of Conduct Negotiations Fail? Read More »
Exercise of Jurisdiction or Admissibility? Delimitation of Outer Continental Shelf (Part II) By Professor Bjørn Kunoy Published on 1 June 2023 Conflicting approaches in Jurisprudence With the recent judgment of the Special Chamber in Mauritius v. Maldives there are now five decisions addressing the merits of questions regarding the delimitation of the outer continental shelf …
Exercise of Jurisdiction or Admissibility? Delimitation of Outer Continental Shelf (Part I) By Professor Bjørn Kunoy Published on 29 May 2023 This is the first part of a total of two posts that endeavour to pursue a critical analysis of the reasoning underlying courts’ and tribunals conclusions for delimiting overlaps of outer continental shelf entitlement …
The BBNJ Agreement – new treaty, old challenges By Shani Friedman* Published on 24 April 2023 On March 4, 2023, the text of the international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS/ Convention) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction …
The BBNJ Agreement: Links between the New and Existing Laws on Protecting Marine Biodiversity By Nguyen Thanh Trung (CIL Research Fellow) Published on 17 April 2023 4 March 2023 was a historic day for the international law of the sea. The United Nations International Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), led …
The final hours of a treaty negotiation By Joanna Mossop* Published on 11 April 2023 As I walk around the echoing corridors of the United Nations Conference Building basement, groups of people are huddled in corners, or sprawled out among the chairs in the closed ‘Vienna Cafe’, or are slumped in their chairs in Conference …
Piercing the glass ceiling at UNCLOS tribunals By Dr Lan Nguyen Published on 17 March 2023 While there has been progress in certain international courts and tribunals, the fact remains that female judges or arbitrators still constitute only a small minority in the international bench. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea …
Navigating the Seas of Soft Law in the Implementation of the Law of the Sea Convention By Dita Liliansa* Published on 15 March 2023 This essay explores the role of regional soft law instruments in implementing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to protect endangered sea turtles and their habitats …
Navigating the Seas of Soft Law in the Implementation of the Law of the Sea Convention Read More »
To Close or Not to Close the Turkish Straits under Article 19 of the 1936 Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits by Nilüfer Oral Centre for International Law – NUS President Zelensky’s request to Turkey to invoke Article 19 On 24 February 2022, Ukrainian President Zelensky requested the Turkish Government to close the Turkish Straits for …
A Regional Network of Sandboxes for Post-COVID 19 Recovery of Marine Tourism in Southeast Asia by Vu Hai Dang[1] Introduction Before COVID-19, Southeast Asia was a well-known destination for world travellers. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), in 2018, six Southeast Asian countries were among the world top 50 in attracting the …
The ‘Enrica Lexie’ Incident Award and Exclusive Flag State Jurisdiction by Arron N Honniball Sugeesh at Malayalam Wikipedia / CC BY, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Enrica_Lexie.jpg Introduction On 21 May 2020 the Arbitral Tribunal (UNCLOS, Annex VII) in respect of the ‘Enrica Lexie’ Incident (Italy v. India), PCA Case No. 2015-28, furnished its Award. Once Italy and India agree …
COVID-19 and Shipping: New Global Regulations and a New Normal by Robert Beckman COVID-19 has caused many serious problems for the global supply chain and the world’s economy. Fortunately, although maritime trade has slowed, it has continued. The Singapore port and many other major ports have remained in operation, and have allowed visits by commercial …
COVID-19 and Shipping: New Global Regulations and a New Normal by Robert Beckman Read More »
A reflection on shipping and pandemics: From 14th century quarantines to the 2005 International Health Regulations by Nilüfer Oral The globalization of trade is not a new phenomenon, with historic examples as the silk route between the 2nd and 14th centuries. It should not be surprising that global trade and increased human mobility also brought …