Researchers' Activities

CIL Director Robert Beckman participated in an International Symposium on “The East China Sean and the Law of the Sea: Defusing Tensions and Enhancing Cooperation” from 21-22 August at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China. Prof Beckman presented a paper on “Non-living Resources in Disputed Areas in the East China Sea: Law and Policy Issues concerning Provisional Arrangements under Articles 74 and 83” which he co-authored with CIL Research Fellow Tara Davenport. Prof Beckman also served as a moderator for one session and a discussant in another session. Prof Beckman also delivered a congratulatory address at a ceremony establishing the Zhejiang University Centre for Ocean Law and Governance. To download Prof Beckman’s presentation on “Non-Living Resources in the East China Sea: Law and Policy Issues Concerning Provisional Arrangements of a Practical Nature” in PDF format, click here. For the draft paper, click here.

CIL Senior Research Fellow Dr Tan Hsien-Li presented her study, co-authored with Professor Alison Duxbury of the Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne, on “ASEAN and Human Rights” for the ASEAN Integration Through Law Project, August Internal Workshop.

CIL Senior Research Fellow Dr Tan Hsien-Li presented her study, co-authored with CIL Research Associate Chan Sze Wei, on “Documentary Dynamic Analysis of the Evolution of the Objectives of ASEAN and the Means for Their Achievement” for the ASEAN Integration Through Law Project, August Internal Workshop.

CIL Director Robert Beckman delivered four lectures on the South China Sea at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) in Hanoi on 9 and 10 August 2012. The lectures were part of a DAV training course for government officials on international law and policy. For more information on the DAV, see http://www.dav.edu.vn/en/

CIL Research Associate Leonardo Bernard participated in the 6th Summer Academy at the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea on 22 July – 18 August 2012, in Hamburg, Germany. Mr Bernard received a partial scholarship from the International Foundation for the Law of the Sea to participate in this year’s Summer Academy. Mr Bernard and his team also managed to win the moot court competition, where he had to argue a maritime boundary delimitation case in front of a panel of judges presided by Judge H. Turk. The award was presented by the Chair of the International Foundation for the Law of the Sea, Doris Konig, during the formal Senate Reception in the Town Hall of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. For more information, click here.

Dr Navin Rajagobal, CIL Deputy Director, together with Prof M. Sornarajah, NUS Law School, and Mr Ken Aboud, Allen & Overy, judged the finals of the Singapore International Affairs Debate 2012 on 21 July 2011 between ACJC and HCJC at the NUS Bukit Timah Campus. The motion was “This House believes that Singapore’s foreign policy should better take into account the sensitivities and interests of our neighbours.” CIL’s patron, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law Mr. K. Shanmugam, was the Guest of Honour.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, WTO Chair and Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Programme, was invited to teach at the IEEM Academy of International Investment and Trade Law in Macau on “Asian Developments in Investment Agreements”.

At General Meeting of SIEL held during the SIEL 2012 conference in Singapore, A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, WTO Chair and Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Programme, was elected to the Executive Council of SIEL. He will serve a term of 3 years from 13 July 2012. SIEL is the leading forum for International Economic Law scholarship.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, WTO Chair and Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Programme, hosted WTO Chairs Dialogue during SIEL 2012 on the Future of the WTO calling for more transparency mechanisms as the way to address the slow progress in Doha negotiations. He suggested that the WTO was more than just legislation and litigation and more mechanisms for explanation could assist in trade liberalization as well. Patrick Low, Chief Economist of the WTO chaired the session.

On Sunday 1st July at 10.30pm, CIL Director Robert Beckman participated in a panel discussion on the South China Sea disputes on World Insight, an in-depth news analysis program on the English language channel of China Central Television (CCTV). Prof Beckman participated from a studio in Singapore. The programme was broadcast live in Singapore.