NGIZ Utrecht | Van Byandtlezing | The Netherlands and the South China Sea dispute’

Van Bylandt lecture: The Netherlands and the South China Sea dispute

The programm 2016/2017 of  the Van Bylandt lecture in Utrecht focused on the global aspects of the South China Sea dispute and the consequences for Dutch diplomatic and commercial interests. Countries neighbouring the South China Sea have claimed sovereignty over this sea containing rich fishing areas and immense reserves of oil and natural gas. The implications of the dispute are not limited to the region and resonate in international diplomatic, legal and commercial domains. During the lecture, two distinguished experts will approach the theme from two different angles. Alex Oude Elferink discusses the conflict from an international law perspective. Henk Schulte Nordholt will dive into the effects of the dispute on the economic ties between The Netherlands and the South China Sea region. There will be much room for discussion after the lectures.

The speakers:

Alex Oude Elferink is currently Director at the Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea (NILOS), School of Law, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, at which university he also holds the chair in international law of the sea. He also is an adjunct professor at the K.G. Jebsen Centre for the law of the sea, University of Tromsø, Norway. His expertise is in the field of international law, with special attention to the settlement of disputes such as in the South China Sea.

Henk Schulte-Nordholt is sinologist and has been involved in Dutch economic politics in China in different functions: At the Ministry of economic affairs, later as director of the AMRO bank in China and Taiwan and presently as owner of the technology company Hofung. The combination of his experience in the field and his expertise in Chinese history, culture, economy and finance have made him a highly valued speaker in this area. Recently he published his fourth book on China, titled China & de barbaren – het verzet tegen de westerse wereldorde.

The session will be moderated by Steffen Rimner, assistant professor of the history of international relations at Utrecht University.

Programme, location and registration:

19.00  Coffee and tea
19.30   Lecture ‘ The Netherlands and the South China Sea dispute’
21.00   Drinks
22.00  End

The event will take place at Achter Sint Pieter 200, in the Raadzaal and is sponsored by The Van Bylantstichting.
There is no entrance fee, but please register by clicking here.