China is arguably one of the most important riparian States in the world, sharing numerous transboundary water resources with its 14 immediate neighbouring States and three States further downstream. Transboundary water resources are governed under international law which has been codified and progressively developed through two global water conventions: the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes and the 1997 Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses. China is not party to either of these conventions, instead governing its transboundary waters through a series of agreements and non-binding instruments. As a legal principle, reciprocity plays a strong role, assisting in the distribution of rights and duties, providing a sense of fairness. This seminar seeks to explore the law of international watercourses and China’s transboundary water treaty through the lens of reciprocity, offering insight into the approach of this important riparian State.

About the Speaker:

Dr. David J Devlaeminck is Associate Professor at the School of Law, Chongqing University in Chongqing, China. He obtained a PhD at Xiamen University in 2018. In Chongqing, David conducts teaching and research in international environmental law, with a particularly focus on transboundary water resources in Asia. He has published widely on the subject, including his monograph, Reciprocity and China’s Transboundary Waters: The Law of International Watercourses (Routledge 2021). He is a Founding Affiliate of the International Water Law Academy, Wuhan University (China), a member of the American Society of International Law and the International Water Resources Association. He is also editorial board member for the Review of European, Comparative and International Environmental Law (RECIEL) and for the Springer book series Water Security in a New World.