9 October 2014 | CIL Seminar Series
Defining EEZ Claims from Islands: A Potential South China Sea Change
Introduction
An article on the South China Sea disputes by Robert Beckman and Clive Schofield was recently published in The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law 29 (2014) 193–243.
In this Seminar the authors highlighted the main points in their article and explained why they believe their suggestions could further the peaceful resolution of the maritime disputes in the South China Sea. They proposed that the claimants bring their maritime claims into conformity with international law in order to promote meaningful discussions on cooperation and joint development in areas of overlapping maritime claims. The seminar was moderated by the Chairman of CIL Governing Board, Professor Tommy Koh, and was attended by participants from the government, foreign embassies, business community and academia.
An abstract of the article is as follows:
In the face of seemingly intractable territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea, the article examines how the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) sets out what maritime claims States can make in the South China Sea and how it establishes a framework that will enable States to either negotiate maritime boundary agreements or negotiate joint development arrangements (JDAs) in areas of overlapping maritime claims. It provides an avenue whereby the maritime claims of the claimants can be brought into line with international law, potentially allowing for meaningful discussions on cooperation and maritime joint development based on areas of overlapping maritime claims defined on the basis of the UNCLOS.
To access the article written by Professor Beckman and Professor Schofield on the subject, click here.
Reading Material
“The South China Sea Disputes: Formula for a Paradigm Shift?”, commentary by Profs Robert C Beckman and Clive H Schofield
About the Speakers
Robert Beckman
Director
Centre for International Law
Robert C. Beckman is the Director of the NUS Centre for International Law and an Associate Professor in the NUS Faculty of Law. He specialises in Law of the Sea and has been following the South China Sea dispute for more than 20 years.
Clive Schofield
Professor
Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security
Clive H. Schofield is Professor of Research at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Australia. He is a political geographer with a special interest in maritime boundary issues. He is a CIL Global Associate.
