International law
US-China: A Cold War lesson to apply “rules of the road” at sea
The most recent Taiwan Strait incident between the US Navy and the PLA Navy have not only highlighted how determined both sides are to advance their positions in the Strait, but…
Lessons from history: Comparing Australia’s response to war crimes with the United States
“It is only recently that this country has given serious attention to the issue of war crimes allegedly committed by our forces,” Special Investigator and former judge Mark…
It’s time Australia branded Russia’s Wagner Group a terrorist organisation
The French parliament has recently designated Russia’s Wagner Group, led by Vladimir Putin’s “chef” Yevgenyi Prigozhin, as a terrorist organisation. Paris has called for the wider…
By default not design: the end of the asylum consensus
Sometimes it is the drip-drip effect of frequent, small exposures, that gradually accumulate over time and result in a conversion. On an almost daily basis, countries around the…
What of the Rohingya? The ICC, Ukraine, and limits of “international” justice
The International Criminal Court has sent a strong message to Russia’s government and beyond that war crimes should – and sometimes can – be prosecuted by issuing two arrest…
A new battlefield: the need for regulations to govern Near Space
The recent take down by the US military of a Chinese weather “spy” balloon over its national airspace has cast a spotlight on the need for regulation of the “Near Space” zone…
Could Indonesia legally stop transit by nuclear-powered AUKUS subs?
Indonesia, a nation that controls vital maritime chokepoints, finds itself at the epicentre of an unfolding geopolitical drama. As rivalry builds between the United States and…
A jurisdiction over the high seas
After nearly two decades of discussion and negotiation, on 5 March the United Nations announced a new agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological…
The acid test: legal moves to force action on climate change
The call for a global response to the impact of climate change and especially the threats posed by sea-level rise for small island states has been constant and growing…
The hard road to justice for Russian war crimes
As evidence of and investigations into war crimes committed by the Russian military during the invasion of Ukraine continue to be reported, consideration has also been applied…