Asian Society of International Law

The Asian Society of International Law, commonly known as AsianSIL, is a region-wide, non-partisan, non-profit, non-governmental association that brings together scholars and practitioners working in public and private international law. Its constituency includes people based in Asia as well as those whose work is substantially concerned with Asian legal issues. The Society was established in April 2007 at an inaugural meeting held at the National University of Singapore, creating a dedicated regional forum for exchange across national legal systems, academic traditions, and professional communities. AsianSIL's mandate combines scholarly, educational, and practical objectives. It seeks to encourage research and teaching in international law, provide a center for interaction among international-law academics and practitioners, and cooperate with relevant international, regional, and national organizations. A central part of its identity is the promotion of Asian perspectives on international law: rather than treating the region only as an object of legal study, the Society provides a platform through which Asian experiences and viewpoints can contribute to the development and interpretation of the field. It also aims to promote awareness of, and respect for, international law across Asia. The Society's principal public activities have included biennial meetings hosted in different Asian cities. These gatherings have provided recurring opportunities for discussion, networking, and debate among international-law professionals. Meetings listed in the Society's historical record were held in Singapore in 2007, Tokyo in 2009, Beijing in 2011, New Delhi in 2013, Bangkok in 2015, Seoul in 2017, and Manila in 2019, with Canberra identified as the planned host for the 2021 meeting. The geographic rotation reflects the Society's regional scope and its effort to connect legal communities across jurisdictions. In 2011, AsianSIL launched the Asian Journal of International Law as its official journal, with publication by Cambridge University Press. The journal gives the Society a continuing scholarly outlet in addition to its conferences and professional network. Together, the journal, meetings, and institutional activities support the Society's broader role as an intermediary between academic research, legal practice, and debates about international law in Asia. The Society's first president was Hisashi Owada, who served from 2007 to 2009 and had previously served as President of the International Court of Justice. The reference material identifies Borhan Uddin Khan as president from 2025 onward and Antony Anghie as secretary-general. AsianSIL is an association rather than a commercial product brand: its principal offerings are professional forums, research dissemination, education, and institutional exchange. Its current scale, finances, membership figures, and administrative headquarters are not specified in the available reference material.

AsianSIL was formed in April 2007 at the National University of Singapore. Its creation responded to the need for a regional institution capable of connecting international-law scholars and practitioners across Asia and linking them with colleagues elsewhere. The Society describes itself as international, non-partisan, non-profit, and non-governmental. Its remit covers both public and private international law and extends beyond any single national legal system. From its inception, the Society's objectives have combined professional exchange with a substantive regional mission. It promotes research, education, and practice by serving as a center of activity for international-law communities. It also encourages cooperation with other international, regional, and national societies and organizations. A distinctive objective is to foster Asian perspectives on international law, alongside a broader effort to increase awareness of and respect for international law in Asia. The Society developed a recurring conference structure through biennial meetings held in different cities. The recorded sequence began in Singapore in 2007 and continued in Tokyo in 2009, Beijing in 2011, New Delhi in 2013, Bangkok in 2015, Seoul in 2017, and Manila in 2019. Canberra was listed as the intended venue for the 2021 meeting. This rotating pattern has supported cross-border participation and has given different national and regional legal communities a role in hosting the Society's principal gatherings. In 2011, AsianSIL launched the Asian Journal of International Law as its official publication. Cambridge University Press publishes the journal, which provides a continuing scholarly channel alongside the Society's periodic meetings. The journal and conferences together form the most visible elements of the Society's work: one sustains research publication, while the other supports live discussion, professional contacts, and exchange between academic and practical perspectives. Leadership has included internationally prominent international-law figures. Hisashi Owada served as the first president from 2007 to 2009 and was a former President of the International Court of Justice. The available reference material identifies Borhan Uddin Khan as president from 2025 onward and Antony Anghie as secretary-general. Detailed membership statistics, staffing, funding, headquarters, and the outcomes of individual conferences are not provided in the available sources.

• 2019

  Biennial meeting held in Manila

  [1]Asian Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org

  Manila hosted the Society's listed 2019 biennial meeting.

• 2011

  Official journal launched

  [1]Asian Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org

  The Society launched the Asian Journal of International Law, published by Cambridge University Press.

• 2007

  Society established

  [1]Asian Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org

  AsianSIL was established at its inaugural meeting at the National University of Singapore in April 2007.

• 2007

  First biennial meeting in Singapore

  [1]Asian Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org

  Singapore hosted the Society's first listed biennial meeting.

A non-profit, non-governmental regional society positioned at the intersection of international-law scholarship, legal practice, education, and Asian perspectives on international law.

• Academic journal · 2011

  Asian Journal of International Law

  The Asian Journal of International Law is AsianSIL's official scholarly journal. Launched in 2011 and published by Cambridge University Press, it extends the Society's mission beyond periodic meetings by providing a continuing venue for research and discussion in international law, including work connected with Asian perspectives and experiences.

• Professional conference · 2007

  Biennial meetings

  AsianSIL organizes major meetings every two years. The events rotate among cities in the region and bring together scholars and practitioners of public and private international law for professional exchange, research discussion, and engagement with regional legal questions.

• 2011

  Creation of the official journalProduct launch

  Background

  The Society sought a durable scholarly platform to complement its conferences and broader mission of promoting international-law research and education.

  Action taken

  AsianSIL launched the Asian Journal of International Law with Cambridge University Press as publisher.

  Aftermath

  The journal became a continuing publication channel for the Society's academic work.

  Source

1. 1Asian Society of International Lawen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Asian Society of International Law official websiteasiansil.org