Search: UNCLOS
14 Jul Events and Announcements: 14 July 2024
...the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the “constitution for the oceans” (T.T.B. Koh), was adopted more than 40 years ago. Is it more resilient in the face of today’s crises compared to other bodies of international law? Or does this body of law require further adaptability and contingent action? In an effort to address this question and in light of these dynamic developments, the UNYB issues a special call for papers providing contributors with a thematic forum to critically assess the law of the sea...01 Mar Sea Shepherd, Piracy, and the “High Seas”
My previous posts (see here for the most recent) have explained why Judge Kozinski’s opinion in the Sea Shepherd case wrongly considers a political end to be a private end. In this post I want to highlight what is ironic — though not technically incorrect — about Judge Kozinski’s conclusion that Sea Shepherd committed an act of piracy on “the high seas.” That is an essential element of piracy; UNCLOS art. 101, for example, defines piracy as “any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed...08 Sep Weekend Roundup: August 25 – September 7, 2012
At the start of the US academic year, Peggy welcomed Stephen Walt’s recommendation, though not his reasons, that wannabe foreign policy wonks study international law, and Roger Alford posted about James Phillips and John Yoo’s analysis of international and comparative law all-stars at the top 16 US law schools. The Republican and Democratic conventions also caught our bloggers’ attention. Julian Ku posted about the strong language in the draft republican platform on protecting American sovereignty and opposing agreements such as UNCLOS, and Peter Spiro doubted whether the idea of citizenship,...24 Nov Meanwhile, China Draws a Provocative, Dangerous, But Perfectly Legal Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea
...pilot draws that mission!) Although provocative and dangerous, it seem clear to me that China’s ADIZ does not violate international law. Indeed, China’s Foreign Ministry was perfectly correct today in its claim that its ADIZ is consistent with “the U.N. Charter and related state practice.” Countries (led by the U.S.) have long drawn ADIZs beyond their national sovereign airspace as a measure to protect their national airspace. This practice, although not exactly blessed by any treaty, does not appear to violate either the Chicago Convention or UNCLOS. (See Peter Dutton’s...13 Dec ASIL, Presidential Candidates & International Law
...see Clinton emphasizing the need for the United States to fix the Human Rights Council and join CTBT and CEDAW, or Edwards wanting the U.S. to renegotiate NAFTA and join the ICC, while Kucinich talks about signing Kyoto and Obama indicates his intention to reinvigorate the Geneva Conventions and have the U.S. join UNCLOS. I really hope that these four won’t be the only candidates to contribute to ASIL’s project (for example, I can’t imagine the site without Senator Biden’s survey response). And, of course, given that ASIL identifies itself...28 Apr Bored with Japan and the Philippines, China Intensifies a Third Border Dispute with India
...China to react, albeit through the soft pressure of an Annex VII UNCLOS arbitral proceeding. It is impressive how China can keep three of its neighbors scrambling to respond while it slowly builds up its territorial claims. In the long run, China v. India/Japan/Philippines/Vietnam/etc. seems like bad odds, but so far it is working. Will international arbitration play any role in resolving these disputes? I doubt it, but we will soon get some empirical evidence if the Philippines is able to win a judgment that affects or shifts China’s behavior....05 May Guest Post: The Mediterranean Migrants Crisis and the Use of Force–Is There a Case for Destroying Smugglers’ Boats?
...that international humanitarian law applies, smugglers’ boats would be entitled to protection as civilian objects. The smugglers’ activities should not qualify as ‘piracy’ under the UNCLOS Article 101. That would in any case only make them liable to seizure by force by any State on the high seas (Article 105). To argue that the provision allows to destroy their ships when docked in a harbour seems too much of a stretch. 3. Conclusion: Another Problem that Cannot be Solved by Force While there are legal avenues open for using force...25 May Reclaiming “Sovereignty” (the Word) and Wrapping LOST in the Flag
...the need for action is greater than it has ever been in order to protect and expand America’s sovereignty and national and economic security. And from that ad (quoting John Negroponte): With ratification, America would secure international recognition of the greatest expansion of resource sovereignty in its history, gaining exclusive access to resources in a region larger than the area of the Louisiana Purchase and Alaska combined. So UNCLOS is pro-sovereignty because it literally (littorally) and legally recognizes US jurisidiction over huge swathes of the ocean. You have to admire...
07 Nov From ‘Nuclear Weapons’ to ‘Climate Change’: The ICJ’s Approach to the lex specialis Maxim
...change treaties, and other sources of law, mutually reinforce and shed light on one another. Compliance with the Paris Agreement is necessary, but may not be sufficient, for compliance with States’ obligations under custom, UNCLOS and human rights instruments” (p. 16). Additionally, Mexico considered that the “Paris Agreement encourages co-operation but does not derogate from general obligations…In this vein, it is Mexico’s position that climate treaties must coexist with broader principles to create a unified and holistic legal framework that ensures comprehensive accountability” (p. 10) (See also the approaches of...21 Nov Security Council Debates Maritime Piracy
...to strengthen domestic criminal laws, and of course, to the overarching legal framework created by UNCLOS and SUA. This preambular paragraph from Resolution 2020 illustrates the Security Council’s legalistic approach: “Recognizing the need to investigate and prosecute not only suspects captured at sea, but also anyone who incites or intentionally facilitates piracy operations, including key figures of criminal networks involved in piracy who illicitly plan, organize, facilitate, or finance and profit from such attacks and reiterating its concern over a large number of persons suspected of piracy having to be...