Search: UNCLOS
13 Dec Weekend Roundup: December 6-12, 2014
...alleged crimes in Darfur, troubled by the seemingly politically laden relationship between the Court and the UN Security Council. Julian also called attention to China’s “position paper” released ahead of its December 15th filing deadline in the situation between China and the Philippines before the UNCLOS arbitral tribunal. He also pointed to his more in-depth analysis of why the Philippines arbitration is doomed to fail (spoiler alert: it’s due to a mistake by the Philippines in employing a “lawfare strategy” forcing China before the arbitral tribunal), notwithstanding Vietnam’s support of...16 Jan Asia’s Ambivalence About International Law & Institutions: Introduction to Opinio Juris and EJIL:Talk! Mini-Symposium
...of others under the pretext of ‘rule of law.’” With regard to the South China Sea issue, China reaffirms in the white paper its commitment to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), but states that disputes over territories and maritime rights should be resolved through “respect[ing] historical facts and seek[ing] a peaceful solution through negotiation and consultation”. Interestingly, the document makes no reference to the infamous nine-dash line, though it does state that China has “indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha [Spratly] Islands and their adjacent waters”....12 Dec Game On with New Player? Vietnam Files Statement Against China at UN Arbitral Tribunal
...the legality of the Chinese “nine-dash line”. I think this filing has much more political than legal significance. As a legal matter, I don’t think there is any procedure in the UNCLOS dispute settlement system for third-party interventions, so I think this is really just like sending a letter to the arbitral tribunal. It has no legal significance, and the tribunal has no obligation to consider it. But of course, it has the right to do so if it believes it is relevant to the dispute before it. On the...11 Dec Why the Philippines’ Arbitration Against China is Doomed to Fail
...disputes. And since it has now spent months denouncing the Philippines arbitration as illegal and illegitimate in its domestic press and internationally, it will be even harder to accept any form of international dispute resolution in the future. This is why the Philippines’ effort to force China to accept arbitration now is doomed to fail and will probably backfire. The Philippines will be in no stronger position vis-à-vis China than it was before the arbitration, even if it wins an award. Meanwhile, the overall credibility and effectiveness of the UNCLOS...13 Jul Why “Lawfare” Won’t Deter China in the South China Sea
...to be an effective counter to China here for at least two reasons (one legal, one policy-based): 1) China has opted out of any “compulsory” system of international dispute resolution that would rule on its territorial claims in the South China Sea (or anywhere, for that matter). This “opt-out” is perfectly legal and may very well prevent the Philippines from even making their full case to the UNCLOS arbitration tribunal. There are no other legal institutions that have jurisdiction. So the only way “lawfare” can work here is if China...
26 Sep Symposium on the ICJ Climate Change Advisory Opinion: What it Means for Land-based Mining in the Green Energy Transition (Part I)
...of land-based mining are linked to the marine environment, too. The obligations under Part XII of the UNCLOS concerning the protection of the marine environment also become relevant. In this regard, article 194 directs states to take all measures to prevent, reduce, and control pollution of the marine environment from any source and ensure that such pollution arising from activities under their jurisdiction and control does not spread beyond areas over which states exercise sovereign rights. This is closely linked to the obligation of states under article 207 to adopt...14 Jul Dear Taiwan: The PCA Ruling Does Not Threaten Your Control Over Taiping Island
...to moderate Taiwan’s expansive South China Sea claims. In fact, her statement was usefully trumpeted by the Chinese government and media as a sign of cross-strait Chinese solidarity. I have never understood the Taiwanese government’s obsession with maintaining its expansive claims in the South China Sea. It is a waste of government resources to protect a fishing industry that doesn’t really deserve so much protection. I am particularly surprised that the current Taiwan president is acting so aggressively to protect Taiping Island’s status as an “island” under UNCLOS entitled to...
26 Aug Human Rights at Sea and Spain’s 2026 Migration Paradox
...interest in restricting borders and combating criminal networks that prey on those without power. But the sea is not a legal vacuum. It is a regulated space where overlapping legal duties apply for states, ships and rescue authorities. UNCLOS Article 98 mandates States to provide aid for persons in distress at sea. The SAR Convention and SOLAS have duties in the area of search and rescue coordination and assistance. International human rights law, including the principle of non-refoulement, restricts the return or transfer of persons to places where they may...