A Substantial and Colorful Second Week
7/21/2009 5:59:31 PM
After two days of relaxation on the weekend, the fatigue resulted from nervous learning activities on the part of students had been dispelled. Students with high spirits would salute the second-week learning life from July 13 to 17.
The second week welcomes two more renowned professors, in addition to Professor Ivan Shearer and Professor John Chao. They are Professor Mo Shijian from Faculty of International Law, China University of Political Science and Law and Professor Christine Gray from Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge of UK.
Professor Mo Shijian brought the WTO law into focus on the role of trade remedy from the perspective of balancing conflict of interests within WTO. Prof. Mo opined that trade remedies are divided into two categories, namely, self-enforced and authority granted, on the basis of general understandings concerning WTO and remedy. He introduced features of trade remedies within WTO, and then discoursed at great length on the specific issues with respect to antidumping, countervailing measures, safeguard, and remedies under DSU and special procedures for dispute settlement under certain agreements. He concluded that trade remedies as rules for game not only contained the logic of their own but also performed the function of ensuring peace and trading order and balancing conflict of interests. Appropriate pictures and ample DSB cases added color to his lectures.
Professor Christine Gray gave an important realistic topic ‘The Developing Role of the UN and Regional Organizations in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security’. She laid stress on the concept of the rule of law in international law and Security Council’s decision-making on the use of force. She argues that UN peacekeeping should have a coherent body of legal principles, UN and the regional organization such as the African Union should cooperate in peacekeeping, and that the use of force should be authorized by the Security Council under Chapter VII of UN Charter. Her lectures touched upon many current hotspots in international affairs, particularly, new challenges of peacekeeping in Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Somalia to the UN peacekeeping system after the Cold War, the cooperation between the UN and the AU, ECOWAS and the EU in tackling issues concerning Darfur (Sudan), Chad and the CAR and Somalia, the controversial doctrine of implied authorization and Kosovo conflict, the controversial doctrine of revived authorization and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and North Korea, Iran and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Professor Ivan Shearer continued his systemic lectures on the General Course on International Law. The four new themes he dealt with included jurisdiction, the law of treaties, the settlement of international disputes, and human rights. Besides elucidating the general theories on international law he still put forward some original opinions to that effect.
Professor John Chao presented three special subjects, namely, Visa and International Law, An Independent Kosovo, and Nationality and the Unrecognized State or Government. Professor Chao also invited an Iceland student and two Russian students to introduce the ‘Aland crisis’ and the Arctic issues respectively in the afternoon of July 16. This made his lectures more attractive and desirable to enrich the contents of lectures by supplying abundant materials and interact effectively between teacher and students.
Aside from the normal learning, various extracurricular activities enriched the students’ lives. In the afternoon of July 13, a splendid legal culture salon, which covered very far-ranging and insightful issues, was held. Seven students from six countries and regions introduced different legal systems of their countries or the international organization they are working for. Furthermore, a marvelous and friendly basketball match was held on the Yanwu Playground in the afternoon of July 16, which greatly strengthened the mutual understanding and friendship among students.
Half the time has passed. Students seemed to be aware of the precious opportunity afforded by 2009 Summer Program of Xiamen Academy. Each class was well organized, and students also made vibrant responses to professors through actively asking relevant questions.
（Zhang Jianbang, Wang Jiangyue, Li Shujian and Sun Lei）
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