Researchers' Activities

CIL Director Robert Beckman participated in the First Meeting of the CSCAP Study Group on Cyber Security. The meeting was held at the Palm Garden Hotel IOI Resort City, Putrajaya, Malaysia and was attended by representatives from 13 CSCAP countries. At the meeting Prof Beckman made a presentation entitled “Legal Policy and Framework: Jurisdictional Challenges in Cyber Security.”

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme,visited Chile at the invitation of the Catholic University of Chile to launch a trade law course started by his former students. While there he was invited to give seminars on various topics at different universities, including a seminar on “New Wine in Old Wine Skins?: The ASEAN IIAs, Investor Protection and Regulatory Flexibility” at the University of Chile, Santiago, a seminar on “Multilateral ‘and/or’ Regional: WTO and RTAs” at the University Diego Portales, Santiago, and a seminar on “Multilateral ‘and/or’ Regional: WTO and RTAs” at Catholic University of Chile, Santiago.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, was invited to give a seminar on “New Wine in Old Wine Skins?: The ASEAN IIAs, Investor Protection and Regulatory Flexibility” at the University of the Pacific, Lima, Peru.

CIL Director Robert Beckman participated in an ASEAN Regional Forum Seminar in Manila on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Seminar was co-chaired by representatives from Australia and the Philippines and was attended by delegates from more than 20 AFR member countries.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, was invited by UNCTAD to teach APEC government officials at the APEC-UNCTAD Intensive Training Course on International Investment Agreements in the APEC Region, Lima, Peru. Prof. Ewing-Chow delivered lectures on “Structure of IIAs: Various Approaches” and “Standards of Protection in APEC IIAs”.

Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Ms Youna Lyons presented a paper on Climate Change and the Costal and Marine Environment (CME) of the ASEAN Region at a seminar organized by S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Maritime Security Program, “Dynamic Maritime Southeast Asia – An Overview” at Asia Shipping and Work Boat 2011, Singapore. For PDF version of her presentation, click here.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, and CIL Associate, A/P Dora Neo were invited by the WTO to share with Asian trade officials their thoughts on GATS and Financial Crisis at the WTO Advanced Regional Workshop on the GATS, Singapore.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, presented a joint paper with Adjunct Research Associate Kirtan Prasad, Creating Policy Space: The Inclusion of the General Exception in the ASEAN Investment Agreements at the Soochow 2010 Conference on International and Comparative Law, Taipei, Taiwan.

Prof Joseph Weiler, A/P Michael Ewing-Chow and Research Fellow Tan Hsien-Li chaired and hosted the ASEAN Implementation Workshop with invited scholars from ASEAN. For more information, click here.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, presented a joint paper with Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Geraldine Fischer, Towards a Model ASEAN Investment Agreement at the Society of International Economic Law, Korea

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, advised the members of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) on the legal implications and policy options for the food security agreement and its consistency with their existing trade obligations. Senior officials from the ASEAN+3 countries attended the meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. Assoc Prof Ewing-Chow was appointed as the Legal Expert to the APTERR project by the Asian Development Bank which has been tasked to assist APTERR with legal and economic issues. CIL Research Associate Ms Liu Gehuan worked with Assoc Prof Ewing-Chow on the legal opinion. In his presentation, Assoc Prof Ewing-Chow addressed legal issues relating to the origin of the rice, the stockpiling of the rice, and the distribution of the rice and the options to ensure APTERR members’ compliance with their obligations under the World Trade Organization, ASEAN FTA and other regional agreements. At the meeting, APTERR members discussed proposed guidelines for the implementation of the agreement to facilitate regional food security in rice.

CIL Director Robert Beckman met with a delegation from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV). The delegation was headed by Mr Dang Dinh Quy, the Vice President (Research) of the DAV and the General Director of its Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies.

CIL Director Robert Beckman was a discussant at a Regional Workshop on Dealing with Energy Vulnerabilities: Case Studies of Cooperation and Collaboration in East Asia. The Workshop was organized by the RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies and held from 9-10 December 2010 at the Park Royal Hotel in Singapore.

CIL Director Robert Beckman and CIL Research Associate Ms Tara Davenport participated in a Conference on Globalization and Law of the Sea in Washington, DC. The Conference was organized by the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), the Center for Oceans Law and Policy (COLP) and the Netherlands Institute for Law of the Sea (NILOS). Prof Beckman made a presentation entitled “Maritime Terrorism and the Law of the Sea: Basic Principles and New Challenges”. For PDF version of his presentation, click here. A paper with the same title was co-authored by Prof Beckman and Ms Davenport. For a PDF version of the draft paper, click here. The paper will be revised, edited and submitted for publication as a chapter in the book containing the conference proceedings.

CIL Director Robert Beckman taught an intensive course on Law of the Sea in a UNITAR Training Course on Law of the Sea and International Environmental Law for officials from the Myanmar Government in Yangon, Myanmar.

CIL Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Ms Youna Lyons presented a seminar titled “Territorial seas, EEZ, continental shelves and the protection of the coastal and marine environment in the ASEAN Region” (download in PDF format), in the MSc (Life Sciences) Environmental Science programme (NIE).

CIL Director Robert Beckman made a presentation on “The South China Sea Island Disputes” at a Workshop on Asia Pacific Security and Defence Policies which was organized by The International Institute for Strategic Studies – Asia at the Four Seasons Hotel, Singapore.

CIL Director Robert Beckman participated in a Workshop on the Global Commons which was organized by the NATO Allied Command Transformation at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore.

CIL Director Robert Beckman presented a paper entitled “CLCS Submissions and Claims in the South China Sea” (download PDF version) at the Second International Workshop on the South China Sea: Cooperation for Regional Security and Development, 10-12 November 2010 in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. The paper was co-authored by CIL Research Associate Tara Davenport. To download the PowerPoint presentation in PDF format, click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman attended a Special Commemorative Event for the 20th Anniversary of the Workshops on the Prevention of Potential Conflicts in the South China Sea which was held in Bandung, Indonesia. At the Commemorative Event the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia honoured Ambassador Hasjim Djalal of Indonesia, who has headed the workshops for 20 years. Prof Beckman served as a resource person for many of past meetings organized as part of the “track 2” workshop process. The commemorative event was held together with the 20th Workshop. For the Statement of the 20th Workshop in PDF format, click here.

CIL Chairman Prof Tommy Koh delivered the Third Linnaeus Lecture on the topic of “Biodiversity and Cities” (download PDF version) in Nagoya, Japan.

CIL Director Robert Beckman was a speaker at a Permitting Workshop on 12 October 2010 which was organized as part of Submarine NETWORKS World 2010 at the Grand Hyatt, Singapore. His presentation was entitled “The Legal Framework on Permitting for Submarine Cables” (download PDF version).

CIL Director Robert Beckman was a member of the CSCAP Singapore delegation to the 1st Meeting of CSCAP Study Group on Safety and Security of Offshore Oil and Gas Installations on 7-8 October 2010 in Danang, Vietnam. He made a presentation on “Current International Law Provisions for Safety of Offshore Oil and Gas Installations” (download PDF version).

CIL Chairman Prof Tommy Koh delivered his remarks on “The Future of Global Governance” (download PDF version) at the RSIS Singapore Global Dialogue, Shangri-La Hotel.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, and Research Associate Ms Liu Gehuan participated at the World Investment Forum 2010 in Xiamen, China.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, and Research Associate Ms Liu Gehuan attended, as invited legal experts, the Working Meeting on the APTERR Agreement in Bangkok, Thailand.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, taught “Asian Developments in Investment Law” at the Institute of European Studies (IEEM) Trade and Investment Academy.

CIL Director Robert Beckman conducted an “Introduction to International Law” course for the MFA Diplomatic Academy on 24-25 June 2010 (download photo). Participants included policy and legal officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade & Industry, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports, Singapore Police Force, Internal Security Department and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority. For more information on executive training programmes, email cil.info@nus.edu.sg.

CIL Chairman Prof Tommy Koh delivered the Opening Remarks at the ISEAS-CHD-SIIA seminar on “The ASEAN Way of Resolving Conflict: Lessons Learnt and Preparing for the Future” (download PDF version).

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, taught Regionalism to the Asia Pacific trade officials at the WTO Regional Trade and Policy Course (RTPC) with Prof Lim Chin Leng, University of Hong Kong and Jo-ann Crawford of the WTO.

CIL Chairman Prof Tommy Koh, Prof Walter Woon, Deputy Director Dr Navin Raj and Research Associate Ms Sari Aziz participated at the Indonesian Society of International Law (ISIL) 8th anniversary commemorative seminar “International Law as a Political Instrument?” in Jakarta, Indonesia (download conference eFlyer).

On World Ocean Day, 8 June 2010, CIL Director Robert Beckman participated in a Roundtable Discussion on “UNCLOS 15 Years after its Entry into Force” organized by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York. Prof  Beckman spoke on “International Cooperation to Combat Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships”. For his prepared preliminary remarks, click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman delivers a presentation on “1982 UNCLOS: A legal framework for cooperation between cable companies and coastal States” (download PDF version) at the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) Plenary Meeting in Mauritius.

CIL’s Patron Senior Minister S. Jayakumar emphasised the importance of international law for small countries at the S Rajaratnam Lecture 2010 (download PDF version).

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, and Research Associate Ms Liu Gehuan were invited to peer review UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2010. For more information on UNCTAD, click here.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, participated in the ASEAN Roundtable organized by ISEAS.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, and Research Associate Ms Liu Gehuan attended the WTO Regional Trade Policy Course Workshop in Geneva as Regional Expert and Academic Assistant respectively.

CIL Director Robert Beckman delivers a presentation on “Legal Gaps and Loopholes in the Legal Regime on Piracy” (download PDF version) at the MARSEQ Combating Piracy Conference, Singapore.

CIL Director Robert Beckman and a team of CIL staff visit ASEAN Secretariat at the ASEAN Headquarters, Jakarta, Indonesia. For more information about the visit and meeting with Deputy Secretary-General Bagas Hapsoro, please click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman gave two presentations at the ASEAN Workshop on UNCLOS and Marine Biodiversity Conservation at Fort Canning Park, Singapore. The conference was organized by the National Parks Board of Singapore. Prof Beckman’s presentations were on “International Legal Frameworks on Marine Biodiversity” and “Marine Protected Areas and the Protection of Marine Biodiversity”.

CIL Director Robert Beckman made a presentation on “International Law and Protection and Preservation of the Marine Environment” at the Youth Leadership Conference at Singapore Management University, Singapore. This inaugural international conference for youth leaders was sponsored by the Environmental Challenge Organization of Singapore.

Deputy Director Dr Navin Raj and Research Associate Ms Liu Gehuan participated at the EU Centre’s Conference on “Networked Regionalism versus Institutional Regionalism” in Singapore.

CIL Chairman Prof Tommy Koh delivers a keynote address (download PDF version) at the EUC Conference on Networked Regionalism versus Institutional Regionalism, Singapore.

CIL Chairman Prof Tommy Koh delivers a keynote address (download PDF version) at the PEMSEA East Asian Seas Congress 2009, Manila, Philippines.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, gave a Max Planck Lecture on ASEAN and Legalization at the Max Planck Institute of Comparative Public Law and International Law, Heidelberg.

CIL Chairman Prof Tommy Koh delivered a lecture on “The Principles of Good Governance” (download PDF version) at the Workshop on Good Governance at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok, Thailand.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, – Emile Noel Fellow at the Jean Monnet Centre, NYU, US.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, attended the Closing Dinner of the WTO Regional Trade Policy Course, Singapore.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, attended the Inaugural Asian International Economic Law Network, Tokyo, Japan.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, delivered a paper “Culture Club or Chameleon: Should ASEAN adopt a policy of Legalisation for Economic Integration?” at the Asian Society of International Law, Tokyo, Japan.