The South China Sea: Perspectives from Law and History

Using official documents, government pronouncements and academic studies, including historical documents and maps, the lecture will assess the merits of the nine-dash line. Taking into account the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and customary international law, the lecture will also discuss policy considerations relevant to the conflicting claims and the current arbitration case.

Discussant: Sophie Boisseau du Rocher, Associate Research Fellow, Center for Asian Studies, Ifri

Chair: Françoise Nicolas, Director, Center for Asian Studies, Ifri

Biography of Justice Antonio T. Carpio

He was sworn in as member of the Supreme Court on October 26, 2001. Justice Carpio obtained his law degree from the College of Law of the University of the Philippines where he graduated valedictorian and cum laude in 1975. He was a Professorial Lecturer of the U.P. College of Law from 1983 until 1992 when he was appointed Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Office of the President of the Philippines.

Justice Carpio was a member of the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines from 1993 to 1998. He was a member of the Technology Transfer Board of the Department of Industry from 1978 to 1979. He served as Special Representative of the Department of Trade for textile negotiations from 1980 to 1981. He was elected President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Pasay-Makati Chapter (1985-1986), Director of the U.P. Law Alumni Association (1984-1989), and Director of the Philippine Bar Association (1989-1990).

For his "distinguished and exemplary service" to the Republic, Justice Carpio was awarded in 1998 the Presidential Medal of Merit by then President Fidel Ramos. In 1991, Justice Carpio received the Outstanding Achievement Award in Law from the Ateneo de Manila Alumni Association. In 2002, he was also the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Ateneo de Davao Alumni Association.  In 2009, he was conferred a Doctorate of Laws, honoris causa, by the Ateneo de Davao University. 

Justice Carpio is the  Chair of the Second Division and Chair of the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

Please find the presentation of Justice CARPIO below.