25 Jul 2022
Why India needs a refugee law
Adopting international standards will not only benefit people
seeking asylum but India’s relations in the neighbourhood.
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17 Jun 2022
The British Indian Ocean Territory and the rules-based order
In claiming sovereignty over Chagos, London privileges Western interests. And breaks international law. -
9 Jun 2022
Stemming the tide of piracy in Southeast Asia
The laws set by the United Nations 40 years ago no longer suit the fight against modern-day crime on the high seas. -
29 Apr 2022
Putting Putin on trial to enforce a price for the powerful
Building a just international order must go beyond the interest of a few to foster a true test of global accountability. -
22 Apr 2022
Even Putin is not beyond the law
International and domestic justice systems are working in the background to bring accountability in the war on Ukraine. -
20 Apr 2022
The duty to prevent genocide in Ukraine
A serious risk of Russia committing genocide imposes legal obligations for states to do what they can to stop it. -
13 Apr 2022
Law of the sea: A contested watershed ruling
The 2016 arbitral award on the South China Sea has changed the dynamics of maritime disputes. -
6 Apr 2022
Protecting law and order at sea means educating people on their rights
Broad understanding about the need to balance and compromise interests will strengthen the system of international law. -
1 Apr 2022
“Lawfare” in the South China Sea disputes
Legal mechanisms, while not definitive, have compelled the claimants to examine their position and communicate them. -
16 Mar 2022
Russia is committing atrocity crimes in Ukraine, but not genocide
More than legal semantics, properly recognising war crimes and crimes against humanity puts Russian leaders on notice. -
7 Mar 2022
The hypocrisy of Russia’s push for a new global cybercrime treaty
The same Russia in the middle of invading a neighbour is preaching respect for state sovereignty online. -
4 Mar 2022
Ukraine: Don’t write off the international order – read and rewrite it
Resistance to Russia’s aggression is being shaped by how decentralised and data-centric global rules have become. -
23 Feb 2022
It’s a mistake to allow Myanmar’s junta to appear in Rohingya case
Accepting military representatives in the genocide defence serves to lend the coup an undeserved legitimacy. -
3 Feb 2022
Navigating the limits in the South China Sea
A new US report casts doubt on the legality of Chinese maritime claims by also critically examining Australian practice. -
23 Nov 2021
Regulating unmanned underwater vehicles in Indonesian waters
Deep sea drones are revolutionising marine science. But the military potential makes transparency essential. -
29 Oct 2021
The legal case for defending Taiwan
If a narrow interpretation of international law saw China attack Taiwan, a League of Nations-style crisis would ensue. -
14 Oct 2021
Would a war over Taiwan be legal?
International law defines statehood and provides the rules of war, but ambiguities abound in the case of Taiwan. -
13 Oct 2021
An opening on the ICJ and an opportunity for renewal
Australia’s nominee for a vacant seat offers states a chance to strengthen and renew the Court at a critical juncture. -
12 Oct 2021
Line in the sand: How sea-level rise is challenging international law
For island nations climate change poses not only a physical threat but a legal dilemma, too. -
20 Sep 2021
The law when putting autonomous military platforms on a shopping list
The fear of rogue killer robots looms large but legal questions go well beyond the pointy end. -
17 Sep 2021
Safeguarding Pacific Island seas starts with indigenous knowledge
A new declaration by Pacific leaders on maritime zone preservation helps, but must also allow for cultural dialogue. -
31 Aug 2021
Deliberate ambiguity of China’s new “territorial waters” declaration
A hastily introduced regulation requiring vessels to register may be contrary to the rights of innocent passage. -
26 Aug 2021
What’s in a name? The Taliban and recognition under international law
Formal recognition as a legitimate government may be a bargaining chip to press the Taliban to respect human rights. -
12 Aug 2021
Syria: The consequences of intellectual failure and moral neglect
No Western government should abide policy goals that in practice are pursued via collective punishment of Syrian people. -
12 Jul 2021
Whatever happened to the South China Sea ruling?
Five years ago the Philippines largely squandered a crucial legal win. But it’s not too late to marshal support. -
2 Jun 2021
Scholar, advocate, judge: James Crawford 1948–2021
Australia’s leading international lawyer appeared in more than 100 cases, delivering many a memorable argument. -
24 May 2021
Why did Australia sign the Moon Treaty?
A decision made under electoral pressure in the 1980s has lasting consequences for policy in the present. -
6 May 2021
Economic diplomacy: Patent politics and trade deal twists
President Biden moves to suspend vaccine patents, RCEP ramps up, IA-CEPA gets a lesson and US dollar reserves tank. -
3 May 2021
The Davis aerodrome and Australia’s leadership in the Antarctic
How can Australia pretend to uphold the ATS while pursuing a project that risks unprecedented ecological impact? -
27 Apr 2021
High hopes and hot air on climate change
Good pledges, moral suasion and new impetus for accountability have yet to sway the recalcitrant. -
22 Apr 2021
Toxic reaction to Japan’s Fukushima water dump
Experts insist the release of treated radioactive water is not dangerous. Legal challenges might find otherwise. -
20 Apr 2021
“America’s back” in the Paris Agreement. For how long?
Climate politics is enjoying an optimistic moment, but a Trumpist rerun would be ruinous for environmental diplomacy. -
11 Mar 2021
When will PNG establish a National Human Rights Commission?
Papua New Guinea has launched a commission to fight corruption. Now it needs to do the same to protect human rights. -
1 Mar 2021
How far would Australia go in defence of the rules-based order?
The way the defence force is structured and the weapons deployed sends a message beyond the words. -
16 Feb 2021
Antarctica: Working a rules-based system
The frozen continent is not fully quarantined from an assertive China, yet myths should not be mistaken for reality. -
8 Feb 2021
Chagos: A boundary dispute tips over a sovereignty ruling
A case between Mauritius and Maldives stands on the ICJ opinion on the former’s claim to the Chagos Archipelago. -
28 Jan 2021
Australia in focus at the UN Human Rights Council
Despite Australia’s history of support for human rights, a formal review offers a serious reality check.