Prof. Yueming YAN has published a co-authored book chapter entitled “Multi-Tiered International Anti-Corruption Cooperation in Asia: A Review of Treaties and Prospects” in Nobumichi Teramura, Luke Nottage, and Bruno Jetin (eds), Corruption and Illegality in Asian Investment Arbitration (Springer, 2024).

Abstract: Effective international cooperation is essential for combating the pervasive and far-reaching problem of transnational corruption. This chapter focuses on the anti-corruption commitments and cooperation among Asian countries in the context of international investment. It firstly examines the legal framework against corruption in Asia at both the international and regional levels, encompassing both ‘hard law’ and ‘soft law’ instruments. In addition, the chapter presents a comprehensive analysis of the anti-corruption provisions in international investment agreements concluded by Asian countries. The review of these agreements reveals that provisions of direct anti-corruption obligations imposed on investors are still elusive among Asian investment agreements, whereas provisions that demonstrate states’ general commitments to combatting corruption are more common. The chapter highlights the importance of more nuanced treaty-making practices in addressing corruption, as well as the need to align commitments made under investment agreements with those of other international instruments aimed at tackling corruption.

This publication is an outcome of Prof. Yan’s project on “Investment/Trade-Plus Values in International Economic Law” under the CUHK Direct Grant for Research 2022/2023.

Read the book chapter here.