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The UNCLOS Dispute Settlement System: What Role Can It Play in Resolving Maritime Disputes in Asia?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 January 2017

Lan Ngoc NGUYEN
Lan Ngoc NGUYEN*
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge, United [email protected]
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Abstract

Asia is currently the scene of some of the most high-profile maritime disputes in the world. Even though the majority of states in Asia are parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS], its dispute settlement system has only been utilized in a handful of cases. Given that negotiations have brought about limited results in easing many of the tensions, it is worth asking whether the UNCLOS dispute settlement system can play a role in the resolution of maritime disputes in Asia. This paper, based on a review of the disputes before UNCLOS Tribunals, as well the advantages and limitations of the system, argues that the UNCLOS dispute settlement system can make meaningful contributions to resolving thorny disputes between Asian states. It does so by providing a solution to the disputes brought before them, clarifying the legal framework for the conduct of the parties and facilitating co-operation amongst countries in the region.

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Articles
Information
Asian Journal of International Law , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , January 2018 , pp. 91 - 115
Copyright
© Asian Journal of International Law 2017 

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Footnotes

*

PhD Candidate, Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge.

References

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117. Ibid., 41 at 63.

118. Ibid., 28 at 69.

119. Ibid., 17 at 39.

120. Ibid., 10 at 24.