Researchers' Activities

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, WTO Chair and Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Programme, and CIL Research Fellow Dr Tan Hsien-Li led a seminar on “The Role of the Rule of Law in ASEAN Integration” at the Academy of Global Governance, Executive Training Seminar Series on “Regional Integration Beyond the European Experience: Latin America and Asia”, European University Institute, Florence, Italy. For more information, click here.

CIL Chairman Prof Tommy Koh delivered a speech on “Japan’s Prospects and Challenges: A View from Southeast Asia” at the International House of Japan, on the occassion of its 60th anniversary celebrations in Tokyo, Japan. To download the speech in PDF format, click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman delivered the Keynote Address at the 7th ABLOS Conference in Monaco on 1-5 October 2012. ABLOS is the Advisory Board on the Law of the Sea of the International Hydrographic Organization. The theme of the 7th ABLOS Conference was “UNCLOS in a Changing World”. Prof Beckman’s Keynote Address was on “Maritime Claims in the South China Sea: Issues & Challenges”. For the PowerPoint Presentation, click here.

CIL Research Associate Leonardo Bernard participated in the International Malaysia Law Conference with the theme “Asian Perspective, Global Viewpoints” from 26-28 September 2012 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia. Leo presented a presentation titled “UNCLOS & the Legal Claims in the South China Sea”. The Conference was hosted by the Bar Council Malaysia. For the PowerPoint presentation, click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman participated in an International Seminar on “Geographical Features in the East Asian Seas and the Law of the Sea” from 20-21 September 2012 at Academia Sinica in Taiwan. Prof Beckman presented a paper on the “Legal Status of Low-Tide Elevations and Submerged Features”. The seminar was co-hosted by the Society of Ieodo Research, Jeju, Korea and the Center for Asia-Pacific Area Studies, Academia Sinica. For the PowerPoint presentation, click here. For the draft paper, click here.

CIL Research Associate Leonardo Bernard participated in the 2nd MIMA South China Sea Conference: Geo Strategic Developments and Prospects for Dispute Management in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at 4-5 September 2012. The Conference highlighted the recent South China Sea developments and their implications on the position of the claimants and extra-regional powers in working for peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea.

CIL Director Robert Beckman participated in a Conference on the Practices of the UNCLOS and the Resolution of South China Sea Disputes at the National Taiwan Normal University from 3-5 September 2012. Professor Beckman presented a paper on “Regional Cooperation to Combat Piracy & International Maritime Crimes”. For the draft paper, click here. For the PowerPoint presentation, click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman participated in a seminar on Piracy & Maritime Security for the 21st Maritime Knowledge Shipping Session on 29 August 2012 at STI Capital Tower in Singapore. The session was jointly organised by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) and General Insurance Association (GIA). Prof Beckman was one two speakers. He made a presentation on “Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships: An International Law Perspective” (download in PDF format).

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.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, WTO Chair and Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Programme was invited to attend the WTO Chairs Annual Meeting at the WTO in Geneva on 25 & 26 June where he presented his paper on “From Self-Sufficiency to Collective Food Security: A Case-study on Rice”. He was then invited to attend the GTAP meeting on 27 June and the WTO Legal Affairs Division’s 30th Anniversary on 28 June.

CIL Patron Prof S Jayakumar, CIL Director Robert Beckman and CIL Senior Research Fellow Youna Lyons participated in the 36th Annual Conference of the Center for Oceans Law and Policy (COLP) In Halifax, Nova Scotia, from 21-22 June 2012. Prof S Jayakumar delivered the Opening Address at the Conference with a paper entitled “The Continental Shelf Regime under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: Reflections after Thirty Years”. CIL sponsored a panel at the Conference on the Decommissioning of Offshore Installations and Structures. Prof Beckman made a presentation on the “Global Legal Regime on the Decommissioning of Offshore Installations and Structures” (download PowerPoint presentation in PDF format; download Working Paper in PDF format) and Youna Lyons made a presentation on “Abandoned Offshore Installations in Southeast Asia and the Opportunity for ‘Rigs-to-Reefs'” (download in PDF format). For more information, click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman and CIL Research Fellow Tara Davenport attended the CSIS Pacific Forum Workshop on “Maritime Security in Southeast Asia” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 12 – 14 June 2012. The Workshop was co-organized by CSIS, the Malaysian Institute of Defense and Security (MiDAS) and the Malaysian International Affairs Forum (MIAF). Prof Beckman gave a presentation on “Resolution of Disputes in the South China Sea” (download in PDF). Tara Davenport gave a presentation on “Provisional Arrangements of a Practical Nature: Problems and Prospects in Southeast Asia” (download in PDF).

CIL Chairman Prof Tommy Koh delivered a lecture on “Law and Justice: An Asian Perspective” (view in PDF) at the 9th Asian Law Institute Conference at the NUS Law School, Singapore.

Research Fellow Dr Lin Lin and Research Associates Ranyta Yusran and Sanjay Pala Krishnan participated in the 9th Asian Law Institute (ASLI) Conference held at the NUS Bukit Timah Campus from 31 May to 1 June 2012. In the first panel on Corporate Law & Governance, Dr Lin Lin presented on “The Evolution of Partnerships and Partnership Law in China: From the Perspective of Asset Partitioning”. Ranyta Yusran opened the first panel on International & Comparative Law by discussing “ASEAN Treaty Practice: Mapping out the Unknown”. Sanjay Pala Krishnan focused on the “Comparative Implementation of Global Conventions on International Maritime Crimes”. To access more information about the ASLI Conference 2012, click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman and CIL Researchers Tara Davenport and Leo Bernard participated at the 7th Annual International Conference of the Law of the Sea Institute (LOSI) on “Securing the Ocean for the Next Generation” on 21 May 2012 – 24 May 2012, Seoul, Korea. The LOSI Conference was jointly organized by LOSI at the University of California, Berkeley and the Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute (KORDI). Director Beckman and Tara Davenport co-authored a paper on “The EEZ Regime: Reflections After Thirty Years” which was presented by Director Beckman. CIL Research Associate Leo Bernard was among four panelists who received the 2012 LOSI Research Competition Award for Early Career Researchers and presented his paper on “The Effect of Fisheries on Maritime Boundary Delimitation”. To download Director Beckman’s PowerPoint Presentation, click here. To download Leo Bernard’s PowerPoint Presentation in PDF format, click here.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, WTO Chair and Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Programme, was invited to participate in the WTO/ICTSD/ACWL Dialogue on Managing Trade Disputes in Geneva. He spoke in two sessions – “Managing Litigation – The Need for Inter-Agency Coordination” and “How to Actively Build Legal Capacity”.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, WTO Chair and Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Programme, was invited to participate in the WTO/ICTSD/ACWL Workshop on Strengthening Legal Capacity in Developing Countries: Specialised Training on WTO in Geneva where he presented a paper on “The Use of the WTO DSM by Asian Developing Countries”.

CIL Director Robert Beckman took part in the first edition of Channel NewsAsia’s Perspectives programme at 8.00 PM on 29 April 2012. Perspectives presents a panel of distinguished thinkers from Singapore’s top institutions and think tanks who are expected to gather every month to dissect current events with in-depth analyses. Hosted by Debra Soon, the Managing Director of Channel NewsAsia, the inaugural panel comprising Tommy Koh, Robert Beckman, Gopinath Pillai and Wang Gungwu discussed issues such as the rise of China and the South China Sea territorial disputes. A recording of the programme and more information can be accessed here: http://www2.channelnewsasia.com/perspectives/

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Programme, was invited to speak at a Colloquium at the University of Freiburg, Germany on “The Theory of ASEAN Integration” on 27 April 2012 as part of the Southeast Asian Studies Programme at the University of Freiberg. For more information, please click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman presented a paper on 20 April 2012 at the Plenary Meeting of the Trilateral Commission in Tokyo, Japan. His paper was on “Geopolitics, International Law and the South China Sea”. For a copy of the paper, click here.

CIL Research Fellow Tara Davenport participated at the 2012 Annual Plenary Meeting of the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) on “A Sea Change: Securing Submarine Cables in the Modern World”, held in Lisbon, Portugal from 17 – 19 April 2012. She presented on “The Criminalization of Damage to Submarine Cables: Problems and Prospects”. For a copy of the PowerPoint Presentation, please click here.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head, Trade/Investment Law & Policy, CIL, was invited to present his research into food security at the final meeting of the NYU-NYLS International Economic Law Working Group that took place in New York on 11 April 2012. Prof Ewing-Chow gave a presentation on “Food Security: From Self Sufficiency to Production Diversification and Regional Cooperation – A Case Study in Rice Security.” For more information on the Working Group, please click here. For a copy of the minutes of the meeting, please click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman presented a paper on “Cooperation to Combat ‘Piracy’ in Southeast Asia” at an international seminar at Padjadjaran University in Bandung, Indonesia on 5 April 2012. The Seminar was organized by the Indonesian Centre for the Law of the Sea (ICLOS) at Padjadjaran University, the Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea (NILOS) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The seminar was organized in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The other speakers were Dr Hasjim Djalal and Prof Etty Agoes of Indonesia and Prof A.H.A. Soons of NILOS and Martin Sebastian of the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA). For a copy of the paper, click here. For a copy of the powerpoint presentation, click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman and CIL Research Fellow Tara Davenport participated in a South China Sea Workshop on 2 April 2012 at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore. The workshop brought together representatives from think tanks in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

CIL Deputy Director Dr Navin Rajagobal participated in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the NUS Department of Political Science on 30 March 2012 at the Orchid Country Club. H.E. Ambassador Chan Heng Chee was the Guest-of-Honour.

CIL Research Fellow, Dr Tan Hsien-Li, along with CIL Research Associates Leonardo Bernard and Ranyta Yusran, participated in the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law in Washington DC, USA on 28-31 March 2012. During the meeting, Dr Tan did a book review for The Practice of International and National Courts and the (De-)Fragmentation of International Law (Edited by Ole Kristian Fauchald and Andr? Nollkaemper). She also covered the Plenary Session rounding up Day 1 ? Confronting Complexity in the Hague: The View from the Courts and Tribunals ? featuring the heads of the international tribunals (Brooks Daly, Permanent Court of Arbitration; Theodor Meron, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia; Sang-Hyun Song, International Criminal Court; Peter Tomka, International Court of Justice). To access Dr Tan’s coverage of the Plenary Session, please click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman and CIL Senior Research Fellow Youna Lyons participated in a Workshop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from 28-30 March 2012. The Workshop on Maritime Security in Southeast Asia: Maritime Safety and the Marine Environment was co-organized by the Pacific Forum, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Honolulu, and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. Prof Beckman gave a presentation in Session 1 on Legal Regimes and Marine Environmental Protection and Safety (download in PDF). Youna Lyons gave a presentation in Session 4 on Energy Extraction and Transportation (download in PDF).

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Geraldine Fischer were invited by UNESCAP, the Thai Department of Trade Negotiations, the International Institute for Trade and Development and the WTO, as expert trainers on Investment and Services negotiations. The “Capacity building programme on Trade in Services and Investment Liberalization Negotiations” was held in Bangkok from 27-30 March 2012. 50 Thai officials and officials from the CLMV countries also participated in this programme.

CIL Senior Research Fellow Dr Tan Hsien-Li presented her paper on “The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights as a Tool for Social Justice” at the Conference on Regional Human Rights Systems – Tools for Social Justice? at the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

CIL Director Robert Beckman was invited to give a live studio interview for Channel News Asia’s newly launched “Think Tank” Segment on 12 March 2012. Prof Beckman shared his insights on the South China Sea disputes and his views on the prospects for resolution. The segment was aired live at 7:30 on 12 March 2012.

CIL Director Robert Beckman made a presentation on “Military Activities in the EEZ: Legal Issues” (download in PDF) at an international conference on “Security Environment of the Seas in East Asia: From the East and South China Seas – Power Shift and Response”. The conference was jointly organized by the Maritime Security Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) and the Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF) of Japan. It was held at the Marina Mandarin Hotel from 28-29 February 2012. The other two speakers in the panel on EEZ activities were Dr. Moritaka Hayashi, Professor Emeritus, Waseda University, and Dr. Jin Yongming, Associate Professor, Director of Center for Oceans Law, Law Institute, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

CIL Chairman Prof Tommy Koh outlines Asia’s challenges in the 21st century at the ADB Eminent Person’s Lecture. To download his speech in PDF, click here.

The Asian Society of International Law held its 3rd NUS-AsianSIL Young Scholars Workshop 2012 – Asian Approaches to International Law on 23-24 February 2012 at NUS, Bukit Timah Campus. CIL Research Fellow Tara Davenport presented her paper “Southeast Asian Approaches to Maritime Delimitation.” CIL Director Robert Beckman and Research Fellow Youna Lyons chaired the panels on Oceans Law and the Environment respectively. Research Fellow and Executive Director of the CIL ASEAN ITL Project Dr Tan Hsien-Li, CIL  co-chaired the Workshop, along with Dean of the Faculty of Law, Simon Chesterman. More information on the Young Scholars Workshop can be found here.

CIL Chairman Prof Tommy Koh delivers a speech on “India and ASEAN: Partners for Peace, Progress and Stability” (download in PDF) at Delhi Dialogue IV, New Delhi, India.

CIL Senior Research Fellow Dr Tan Hsien-Li presented her paper, co-written with CIL Research Associate Ranyta Yusran, on “The Impact of the Rome Statute in Southeast Asia and the Way Forward” at the Conference on “Justice for All? The International Criminal Court – A Conference: A Ten Year Review” at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

CIL Research Associate Ranyta Yusran participated in the 2nd Meeting on Violence, Exploitation, and Migration Affecting Women and Children in ASEAN held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Meeting was held by the Human Rights Resource Centre. Ms Yusran is appointed to be the Country Rapporteur to conduct a baseline survey on issues of violence, exploitation, and migration affecting women and children in Indonesia. The baseline survey initiative receives positive support from members of the ASEAN Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) and is intended to be used to assist the work of ACWC. The baseline surveys of all 10 ASEAN Member Countries are expected to be completed in April 2012 and launched in May 2012.

CIL Director Robert Beckman made a presentation to government officials in Brunei Darussalam on 26 January 2012 at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies (SHHBIDSS). Prof Beckman’s presentation was on “UNCLOS Dispute Settlement Mechanisms and the South China Sea”. His presentation was followed by a question and answer session. Prof Beckman was invited by SHHBIDSS as a Distinguished Speaker in its Southeast Asia Security Roundtable Series IV. The SHHBIDSS was established in 2007 and is within the Ministry of Defence.

CIL Patron Professor S Jayakumar delivered an address on “Conflict Resolution: The Need for a New International Paradigm” (download in PDF) at the International Conference on Global Movement of Moderates in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programm and WTO Chair, advised the members of the Working Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) on their WTO obligations with regard to the procurement and release of rice under APTERR’s Rules and Procedures. Senior officials from the ASEAN+3 countries attended the meeting in Singapore. 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, Liu Gehuan worked with Assoc Prof Ewing-Chow on the legal opinion. In his presentation, Assoc Prof Ewing-Chow addressed legal issues relating to subsidies, procurement and market pricing. The meeting successfully negotiated a significant portion of the text of the Rules and Procedures of APTERR.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, and five CIL Research Associates, Mr. Leonardo Bernard, Ms. Tara Maria Davenport, Ms. Liu Gehuan, Ms. Mayla Fermina Alonzo Ibanez, and Ms. Ranyta Yusran presented their papers on various fields of law at the 8th Asian Law Institute’s (ASLI) Conference held in Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. For more information and to download their papers, click here.

CIL Research Associate, Ms Ranyta YUSRAN presented a paper entitled ‘Post-Conflict Justice in Southeast Asia: The Limited Impact of the Rome Statute on Indonesia and in the Region’ at the ‘Launch Conference: Assessing the Impact of the International Criminal Court’ held by Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies of Leiden University in The Hague, The Netherlands. The paper was authored together with CIL Research Fellow, Dr TAN Hsien Li. The conference was attended by various legal practitioners, academics, researchers, and NGOs from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and America specializing in international criminal law and transitional justice. Below is the link to the paper, please note that the paper is still a working draft and please do not cite without the permission from the authors. To download Post-Conflict Justice in Southeast Asia: The Limited Impact of the Rome Statute on Indonesia and in the Region by TAN Hsien Li and Ranyta YUSRAN, click here.

CIL Senior Research Fellow Dr Tan Hsien-Li’s paper, co-written with CIL Research Associate Ranyta Yusran, on “Post-Conflict Justice in Southeast Asia: the Limited Impact of the Rome Statute on Indonesia and in the Region” was presented by Ms Yusran at the Conference on “Post Conflict Justice: Assessing the Impact of the Rome Statute” held at Leiden University in The Hague.

CIL Director Robert Beckman participated at a conference organized by the ASEAN Studies Centre (ASC) of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) on “Entering Uncharted Waters?: ASEAN and the South China Sea Dispute”. The main objective of the one-day conference was to discuss on how ASEAN, as an organization, should be handling the South China Sea dispute and through what channels and mechanisms. Prof Beckman presented his paper “The South China Sea Dispute: An International Lawyer’s View”  (download in PDF format) which was prepared for the Conference. For PDF version of his presentation, click here.

The Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) organized a Conference on the South China Sea: Recent Developments and Implications Towards Peaceful Dispute Resolution on 12 to 13 December 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. CIL Director Robert Beckman presented his paper on “The UNCLOS Dispute Settlement Mechanisms and the South China Sea Disputes” in Session 3 on “The Way Forward: Options and Their Implications.” To download his paper in PDF format, click here. To download his PowerPoint presentation in PDF format, click here.

The US National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) and Indonesia’s Habibie Centre organized a Conference on Marine Energy Resources in Asia to launch NBR’s Research Project on Marine Energy Resources in Asia. CIL Research Associate Tara Davenport presented her paper on “Joint Development in Asia: Some Valuable Lessons Learned.” For a copy of her PowerPoint Presentation in PDF format, click here.

The Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) of the Faculty of Law, University of Wollongong, Australia hosted the sixth Law of the Sea Institute (LOSI) Conference “The Limits of Maritime Jurisdiction” on 28 November to 2 December 2011 in Wollongong, Australia. The LOSI Conference was sponsored by LOSI, which is based at the School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, USA, and the Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI), South Korea. CIL Director Robert Beckman gave a presentation on “Maritime Security and Jurisdiction over Pirates and Maritime Terrorists.” CIL Research Associate Tara Davenport was among five panelists who received the 2011 LOSI Research Competition Award for Early Career Researchers and presented on “The Negotiation of Maritime Boundaries in the East China Sea: Legal and Practical Issues.” CIL Research Associate Leo Bernard also attended the Conference. To download Director Beckman’s PowerPoint Presentation in PDF format, click here. To download Tara Davenport’s PowerPoint Presentation in PDF format, click here.

Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Youna Lyons has been invited by the Republic of Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment, on 23 November 2011, to make a presentation on the use of dispersants in response to oil spills under international law, at the Seminar on Registration Arrangements of Dispersant For Oil Spill Response at Sea organized in Bali. To download a copy of the presentation in PDF format, click here.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programm and WTO Chair, NUS was invited by Baker & McKenzie, Hong Kong to speak on ASEAN IIAs on 22 November 2011. Prof Ewing-Chow shared with the partners and legal associates of Baker & McKenzie, Hong Kong as well as Beijing, Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh through a videoconference link about “ASEAN & Asian International Investment Agreements (IIA): Protecting FDI from Regulatory Changes”.

CIL Research Associate Leonardo Bernard participated in the 2nd Indonesian Centre for International Law Studies (CILS) Conference 2011 on ‘The ASEAN’s Role in Sustainable Development’ in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The Conference was jointly organized by the Law Faculties of University of Indonesia and University of Gajah Mada. Mr Bernard was one of the Speakers in a Panel that focus on delimitation in the North Malacca Strait, where he talked about the legal history of the continental shelf and EEZ, as well as possible legal solution for delimitation between Indonesia and Malaysia in the North Malacca Strait. For PDF version of his presentation, click here. For a PDF version of the draft paper written by Mr Bernard titled ‘Whose Side Is It On? The Boundary Dispute in the North Malacca Strait’, click here.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme and WTO Chair, NUS was invited by UNCTAD for the UNCTAD – City University of Hong Kong “Contemporary Issues in Investment Arbitration: Challenges and Opportunities for Asia’s Growth & Development” Conference from 21-22 November 2011. Prof Ewing-Chow spoke about “Trends and developments in FDI flows and in International Investment Agreements (IIAs): Asia from Capital Importers to Capital Exporters” and “ASEAN IIAs and Regulatory Space” both of which are based on research in collaboration with Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Geraldine Fischer. Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General, UNCTAD opened the conference.

CIL Director Robert Beckman participated in the International Conference on ‘Cooperation for the Safety of Navigation in East Asia: Legal Arrangements and Political Implications’ in Haikou, China. The Conference was organized by the National Institute for South China Sea Studies. Professor Beckman was one of the Panellists on the panel focusing on Navigation in the South China Sea, where he talked about the use of Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) in the South China Sea. For a PDF version of the draft paper that he presented, click here.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme and WTO Chair, NUS was invited by the WTO as a regional expert for the WTO Regional Trade Policy Course for Asia Pacific officials at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in New Delhi, India. Prof Ewing-Chow taught “The WTO Dispute Settlement System” with Jung Aegyoung, WTO Legal Affairs Officer from 14-16 November 2011. Prof Ewing-Chow also shared his new research on the use by Asian Developing Countries of the WTO Dispute Settlement System which arose out of a collaboration with Mr Akshay Kolse-Patil.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme and WTO Chair, NUS was invited by School of Law& Silk Road Institute for International and Comparative Law of Xi’an Jiao Tong University to their conference “CHINA IN THE WTO AT 10TH” form 3rd – 9th November 2011. Prof Ewing-Chow gave lectures on “Trade in Services” and “The Growing Centrality of China in East Asia’s Production Processes” to over 90 officials, lawyers and students attending the event. For a photo from the event, click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman and CIL Research Associate Leonardo Bernard participated in the 3rd International Workshop on The South China Sea: Cooperation for Regional Security and Development in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Conference was organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and Vietnam Lawyers Association. Prof Beckman made a presentation entitled “Disputed Areas in the South China Sea: Prospects for Adjudication or Arbitration”. To download his presentation in PDF format, click here. A paper titled “Disputed Areas in the South China Sea: Prospects for Arbitration or Advisory Opinion” was co-authored by Prof Beckman and Mr Bernard. For a PDF version of the draft paper, click here.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme and WTO Chair, and Research Fellow Geraldine Fischer were consulted by Prof Sophia Listrani of Syiah Kuala University in Aceh about developing the first course on International Investment Law to be taught in English in Indonesia. Prof Listrani spent 2 weeks from 17 October to 1 November 2011 at CIL developing the curriculum and gathering the materials for the course with the advice of Prof Ewing-Chow and Ms Fischer. This project is part of a capacity building initiative for Aceh funded by the Dutch government. Last year Prof Ewing-Chow and Research Associate Liu Gehuan helped Prof Tiwardah Hamidysie develop the first course on World Trade Law in Indonesia. [View image]

Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Youna Lyons made a presentation on Marine Pollution from Offshore Activities (environmental, socio and economic aspects) at the International Conference on Liability and Compensation Regime for Tansboundary Oil Damage Resulting from Offshore Exploration and Exploitation Activities organized in Bali by the Republic of Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 21-23 September 2011. For a copy of the presentation in PDF format, click here.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme was invited by the ASEAN Studies Centre to participate in the 3rd Train-the-Trainers Course on the ASEAN Charter as the legal expert. Prof Ewing-Chow delivered a full day lecture about the legal implementation of the ASEAN Charter and the various issues that need to be addressed. For more information, click here.

On Wednesday 14 September 2011, CIL Director Robert Beckman made an official visit to the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) at the University of Dundee. He met with Director Prof Peter Cameron and members of his staff to discuss possible collaboration. He made a presentation at a staff seminar on “The South China Sea Disputes: Prospects for Joint Development” and led a discussion with PhD students from CEPLMP on the International Regulation of Pollution from Offshore Installations. For a copy of the PowerPoint Presentation on the South China Sea Disputes, click here.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, participated in the WTI’s Annual World Trade Forum 2011: “New Directions & Emerging Challenges in International Investment Law and Policy” held on 9 Sep to 10 Sep 201. This year’s Forum, held in cooperation with UNCTAD discussed the current challenges and opportunities for global investment governance. This was a new development for the WTI’s World Trade Forum which formerly only focused on trade. Prof Ewing-Chow was a discussant for papers presented by Prof Andrea Bjorklund and Ms Yas Banifatemi, Partner, Shearman & Sterling on Convergence of Investment Rules and Consistency in Panel Interpretations. Prof Ewing-Chow also then chaired a session on “The Quest for an Adequate Balance Between Investment Protection and Liberalization and Other Public Policy Objectives” where Mr Bart Legum, Partner, Salans and Prof Anne van Aaken, University of St Gallen presented papers General Exceptions in International Investment Law and Investment and Sustainable Development. Assoc Prof Celine Levesque, University of Ottawa and Assoc Prof Susan Franck, Washington & Lee University acted as discussants.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, was invited by United Nation Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to the Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting on the “Consolidation of International Agreements: Disentangling the Spaghetti Bowl?” held at World Trade Institute (WTI) in Bern, Switzerland on 8 and 9 September 2011. He spoke on the session with Assoc Prof Vivienne Bath, University of Sydney, Prof Rudolph Dolzer, University of Bonn, Prof Peter Muchlinski, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and Prof Andrea Bjorklund, UC Davis School of Law. Prof Ewing-Chow presented a paper which he co-wrote with CIL Adj Research Fellow Geraldine Fischer entitled ASEAN IIAS: CONSERVING REGULATORY SOVEREIGNTY WHILE PROMOTING THE RULE OF LAW? For a copy of the presentation in PDF format, click here.

On Thursday 8 and Friday 9 September 2011, CIL Director Robert Beckman attended a book project meeting on Modern Piracy at University College London. Prof Beckman made a presentation on his draft chapter on Piracy in Southeast Asia and had discussions with other experts who are contributing chapters to the book on Modern Piracy which will be edited by Douglas Guilfoyle of the UCL Faculty of Law.

CIL Director Robert Beckman presented a paper at an International Workshop on Cooperation and Development in the South China Sea which was organized by the China Institute of Marine Affairs (CIMA) in Beijing from 29-31 August, 2011. Prof Beckman’s paper was on “Prospects for Joint Development in the South China Sea”. The Director of CIMA is Dr Gao Zhiguo, who is a judge on the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). For a copy of the paper, click here. For a copy of the PowerPoint Presentation in PDF format, click here.

CIL Senior Research Fellow Dr Tan Hsien-Li presented her paper on “The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and Soft Law: Broadening the Reach of Regional Human Rights Protections” at the Third Biennial Conference of the Asian Society of International Law held in Beijing, China.

CIL Director Robert Beckman presented a paper in the panel on Law of the Sea at the Third Biennial Conference of the Asian Society of International Law in Being on 26-27 August. Prof Beckman’s paper was on “China, UNCLOS and the South China Sea”. For a copy of the paper, click here. For a copy of the PowerPoint Presentation in PDF format, click here.

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”.

A/P Michael Ewing-Chow, Head of CIL’s Trade and Investment Law & Policy Programme, was invited by the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration to present a paper titled “Investment Agreements: Protecting Against Regime Change” at the Asia Pacific Regional Arbitration Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Prof Walter Woon and Deputy Director Dr Navin Raj represented CIL at the inauguration of Malaysia’s International Centre for Law and Legal Studies (I-CeLLS) on 8 July 2011 in Putrajaya, which was graced by the Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak. I-CeLLS is expected to provide a platform for experts from various backgrounds and disciplines, including private legal practitioners, academics, government lawyers and policy makers, to interact and address different aspects of key national, regional and international issues.

CIL Director Robert Beckman held a seminar on “The South China Sea Disputes: Prospects for Adjudication or Arbitration” on 14 June 2011. This seminar was the seventh in a series of invitation-only seminars organized by CIL on the South China Sea disputes. For a copy of the presentation, click here.

CIL Chairman Prof Tommy Koh’s keynote speech at Raffles Institution Tiltshift Summit held on 13 June 2011. For the PDF version of his speech, click here.

CIL Director Robert Beckman was a speaker at the International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC 2011) at Changi Exhibition Centre on 19 May 2011. The title of Prof Beckman’s presentation was “Developing an Integrated Approach to Ocean Management”. IMSC 2011 is a global forum organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies with the support of Republic of Singapore Navy. For a copy of Prof Beckman’s PowerPoint Presentation, click here.

Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Youna Lyons presented a paper on Offshore oil and gas in the South China Sea and the protection of the marine environment at a seminar on Perspectives on Transboundary Environmental Governance in Australia and Beyond organized by the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security in Wollongong, Australia.

CIL Director Robert Beckman made a presentation in Brussels on 5 May 2011 at an Expert Roundtable on Maritime Security. The Roundtable was organized by the Embassy and Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the European Union, and EGMONT, the Royal Institute for International Relations of Belgium, and held in the Priory of Val Duchesse, Brussels. Professor Beckman and Dr Hasjim Djalal of Indonesia attended at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Indonesia. Professor Beckman spoke about maritime security in Southeast Asia. For a copy of Prof Beckman’s PowerPoint Presentation, click here.

CIL Deputy Chairman Prof Walter Woon’s keynote speech at CIL-KSIL-SILS conference held on 20 April 2011. For the PDF version of his speech, click here.

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.