國(guó)際私法（國(guó)際課程）教學(xué)大綱

《國(guó)際私法國(guó)際課程》教學(xué)大綱

一、教學(xué)目標(biāo)

本課程在比較法視野下審視審視國(guó)際私法，以當(dāng)代國(guó)際私法實(shí)踐，尤其是中國(guó)國(guó)際私法

最新的理論、立法與實(shí)踐為著眼點(diǎn)來(lái)進(jìn)行課程設(shè)計(jì)與教學(xué)。本課程實(shí)行全英語(yǔ)教學(xué)。

本課程的教學(xué)目標(biāo)是：1、掌握國(guó)際私法的基本理論和基礎(chǔ)知識(shí)：2、了解國(guó)國(guó)際私法法

的前沿問題和最新動(dòng)態(tài)：3、熟悉國(guó)際私法關(guān)術(shù)語(yǔ)的英文表達(dá)：4、掌握一帶一路倡議下中國(guó)

國(guó)際私法的新問題、新發(fā)展；5、能夠運(yùn)用所學(xué)知識(shí)，分析和解決涉外相關(guān)法律實(shí)務(wù)問題。

開設(shè)本課程，旨在通過(guò)理論教學(xué)與實(shí)踐操作訓(xùn)練，使學(xué)生掌握國(guó)際私法基礎(chǔ)知識(shí)，包括

有關(guān)國(guó)際民事訴訟管轄權(quán)、外國(guó)人的法律地位、沖突規(guī)范、法律適用、國(guó)際民事司法協(xié)助、

國(guó)際民商事爭(zhēng)議解決機(jī)制等等議題。本課程通過(guò)英語(yǔ)授課的形式，旨在培養(yǎng)同學(xué)們的實(shí)務(wù)外

語(yǔ)技能，促使同學(xué)將所學(xué)知識(shí)與中國(guó)提出的一帶一路倡議相接軌，從而更好地為今后的學(xué)習(xí)

和實(shí)踐服務(wù)。

Preface

Inaworldwhichisshrinkingbyincreasedandimprovedneansofcommunicationand

exchange,privateinternationallaw,especially,inacomparativeperspective,hasacquired

extraordinaryimportanceandbecomeanindispensabletoolforalllawyers.Itisinthissensethat

thisCoursefulfilsitsutilitarianpurpose,asitexploresbothdoctrinalandpragmaticaspectsof

ChineseprivateinternationallawwithinthecontextoftheBelt&RoadInitiative.

ThisCourseisdesignedfbruseinatypicalthree-creditcourseonprivateinternationallaw

taughtinEnglish,whichisdevoted(oprovidingdetailedandin-depthanalysisofthecurrent

conflictrulesinChinaconcerningjurisdiction,choiceoflawandforeignjudgmentsandawardsin

civilandcommercialrelateddisputes,andtocanyingoutupdatedcaseanalysiswhichcould

discoverthejudicialpracticein:hcChinesePeople'sCourts.

PartIconsistsofthreechapterswhichprovidesanintroductiontothecoursewithout

enmeshingstudentsindetailsandcomplexitiesbetterprovidedinlaterparts.ChapterIisa

generaldescriptionofprivateinternationallawwhereitsname,scope,nature,definition,raisons

d'etreandsourcesarediscussed.Theremainingtwochaptersexaminethesourcesofprivate

internationallawandavitalconceptofoursubject-"ConflictRules”respectively.

PartIIexploresthehistoricaldevelopmentwhichiscomposedofthreechapters,i.e.,the

EuropeanContinentalHistory,theAnglo-AmericanHistory,andtheChineseHistory.Thispartis

important,insofarasmodernprivateinternationallawhasbeenstronglyinfluencedbyitsown

history.

PartIIIturnstothe"'SubjectsofPrivateinternationalLaw”.UndertheChinesescholarship,

naturalpersonsandlegalpersonsasclassifiedas“regularsubjects^^,whilestatesandinternational

organizationsas^exceptionalsubjecis”.Thefirsttwochaptersofthispartlayoutthenationality

anddomicileofnaturalpersonsandlegalpersons;andthelastchapterdiscussestheissuesof

slatesandimenialioiialuiganizalioiisas(hesubjccisofprivalcimcnialionallaw.China'sposiiion

andpracticeontheimmunitiesofslatesand(heirpropertyhavealsobeenthoroughlyanalyzedin

chapter3.

PartIVdealswith^JurisdictionofCourtsinInternationalCivilLitigation”.Asjurisdictionis

usuallythefirstissuethatacourthastodealwithwhenadisputeissubmittedbeforei(.thispart

examinesthejurisdictionofcourtsininternationalcivillitigationpriortothediscussionofchoice

oflawissues.Chapter1providesacomprehensiveexegesisofthebasicsofinternationalcivil

jurisdiction.Chapter2summarizesandanalyzesthecurrentChineselegislationandjudicial

practiceoninternationalciviljurisdiction;thereafteritprovidesconnncntsandsuggestions.

PartVspellsoutthe“GeneralPartofConflictsLaw”,v/hichexaminesanumberof

conceptualissuesrecurindiscussionsofchoice-of-lawproblemssuchascharacterization,renvoi,

proofofforeignlaw,evasionoflawandordrepublicreservation.

Entitled^'SelectedAreasofConflictRules,PartVI.exposesstudentstothecoresetofissues

neededtounderstandprivateinternationallaw.Thispartfocusesonconflictrulesthatscatter

throughvariousChineselaws,includingnewConflictsActof2010,whosebalancewillbe

devotedtoasurveyofselectedareasofChineseconflictrules,scrutinizingtherelevantlegislation

aswellasjudicialpracticeand.providingsystematiccomments.Theconflictrulesforcapacity,

contract,(ort,familyissues,successionandpropertyarcselectedasthetopicsofdiscussioninthis

part.Thehighlightedareasarechosenpartlyfortheirimportanceintermsoftheireffectonthe

relationshipsbetweenChinaandotherstatesandbetweenChinesecitizensandforeigners,and

partlybecauseof(helackofavailablematerialsotherthanthesesubjects.

PartVIIis''RecognitionandEnforcementofJudgmentsandAwards”whichincludestwo

chapters.Chapter1providesanoverviewoftherecognitionandenforcementofforeignjudgments

andaddressestherecognitionandenforcementofforeignjudgmentsinChina.Chapter2reviews,

interalia,thedistinctionbetweenrecognitionandenforcement,theregimeforrecognitionand

enforcementofforeignawardsinChinaand,theapplicationoftheNewYorkConventionin

China.

本課程使用的教材：

霍政欣著：高等院校法學(xué)專?業(yè)雙語(yǔ)課程規(guī)劃教材：《國(guó)際私法》，對(duì)外經(jīng)貿(mào)大學(xué)出版社2017

年版。

二、課程綱要

PartOneIntroduction

ChapterOneDescriptionoftheSubject

[LearningOutcomes]

BytheendofthisChapterandtherelevantreadings,youshouldbeableto:

☆Statethedefinitionofprivateinternationallawfromtheperspectiveofcomparativelaw

☆Define“foreignclcmcnt^^inChineselegalcontext

☆UnderstandIhescopeandnatureofprivateinternationallawfromtheperspectiveof

comparativelaw

☆ComprehendthereasonswhyChinesescholarshipupholdabroaderscopeofprivate

internationallaw

☆Understandtheraisonsd'etreofprivateinternationallaw

[KeyConceptionsorTerms]

privateinternationallaw,conflictoflaws,foreignelement,sovereignly,forumshopping

【CaseStudy]

On23May2004,asectionofthefuturistic,cylindricalpassengertcnninalatParis'Charles

deGaulleaiiportcollapsed,killingfourpeople.ThedeadincludedtwoChinese,oneCzechand

oneUkrainian.Threeotherpeoplewereinjuredinthecollapse.InFebruary2005,theresultsfrom

theadministrativeinquirywerepublished.Theexpertspointedoutthattherewasnosinglefault,

bulratherunumberofcausesforthecollapse,inadesignthathadlittlemarginforsafety.The

enquiryfoundtheconcretevaultedroofwasnotresilientenoughandhadbeenpiercedbymetallic

pillarsandsomeopeningsweakenedthestructure.Sourcesclosetotheenquiryalsodisclosedthat

thewholebuildingchainhadworkedasclosetothelimitsaspossible,soastoreducecosts.Paul

Andreu,thedesigneroftheterminal,denouncedthebuildingcompaniesforhavingnotcorrectly

preparedthereinforcedconcrete.

Whereshouldthevictimsortheirrelativessuefordamages?Whomshouldthevictimssue?

Whatlawcontrolstheirclaims?Shoulddifferentlawsgovernthevictimsofdifferentnationalities?

ArctheplaintiffsentitledtothebenefitoftheFrenchrulethatallowsanawardof“moral

damages“forgriefoverthelossoftheinjuryofcloserelatives?Iftheplaintiffschosetosubmit

theirclaimsbeforeaFrenchcourtinParis,canthejudgmentrenderedbythatFrenchcourtbe

recognizedinChina?

Thiscaseprovidestheissueswithwhichprivateinternationallawhastocope.Thelegal

issuesitposesarcdifficultbecauselawhasbecometheprerogativeoftcnitorialsovereigns,

whereashumanaffairsfreelycrossstateandnationalboundaries.Asthiscaseillustrates,the

tensionbetweensovereigntyandmobilityraisesaseriousofquestionswhichcanbegrouped

togetherunderthefollowingthreeheadings:

(1)Jurisdiction(wherecan(hepartiesresolveadisputebysuitorothermeans,suchas

arbitrationorreconciliation?)

(2)Choiceoflaw(whatlawwillajudgeoranarbitratorapplytoresolvethedispute?)

(3)Recognizeandenforcementofjudgmentsorawards(whatwillbe(heeffectofany

judgmentoraward?Ortobemorespecific,canotherjurisdictionsandnationsbeexpectedto

honorthedeterminationsofthecourtorthearbitratorsthatdecidedthedispute?)

Basically,theabovethreequestionsconsistofthemaintopicsofprivateinternationallaw.

Consequently,thesubjectmatterofthiscourseiscentraltoplanninginternationaltransactionsand

toresolvingdisputesresultingfromthosetransactions.

[Exercise]

(1)WhatisprivateinternationallawundertheChinesedoctrine?

(2)AccordingtotheargumentsofChinesescholars,whatisthenatureofprivate

intemationallaw?

(3)WhatistheAirplaneDoctrine”advocatedbyProf.HANDepei?

(4)Whaiisthe“l(fā)iberalihree-elemenl-iest'"?

(5)Istheapplicationofforeignlawanencroachmentondiesovereigntyoftheforum?Why?

(6)Whatisforumshopping?Isfbiumshoppingefficientorinefficient?

ChapterTwoSourcesofPrivateInternationalLaw

【LearningOutcomes]

BytheendofthisChapterandtherelevantreadings,youshouldbeableto:

☆Definesourcesoflaw

☆Understandsourcesofprivateinternationallawfromtheperspectiveofcomparativelaw

☆StatesourcesofprivateinternationallawinChina

☆ComprehendthestatusofdifferentsourcesunderChineselegalstructure

【KeyConceptionsorTerms】

source,legislation,caselaw,internationalconvention,internatiomdpractice

【CaseStudy]

InJanuary2011,P.Chinesenational,tookaJapanAirlinesplanefromBeijingtoTokyo.

However,theJALflightwasforcedtodiverttoOsakaairportratherthanlandatNaritaairportdue

topoorweatherconditions.Pwasforcedtostayintheairportwaitinghallwithoutadequatefood

orwaterduringanunscheduledlayoverwhichlastedunexpectedlyforsixteenhours.Pclaimed

thatpassengersofothernationalitieswereallowedtoleaveandwereprovidedwithhotel

accommodation;JALofficials,onthecontrary,saidthattherehadbeennodiscrimination,andthat

passengersofallnationalitieshadbeentreatedequally.AfterhisreturntoBeijing.Pwasplanning

tosueJALforcompensations.

Duetothelackofsolidevidencetosupporttheallegeddiscrimination,thedisputewas

resolvedasamatterofserviceprovisionrather(handiscrimination.Asneitherinternational

conventiontowhichChinaisacontractingparlynorChinesedomesticlawprovidesanyarticle

regulatingthespecificserviceofcanierintheabovedescribedsituation,theCounselofPrelied

ontheinternationalpractice(ov/intheclaim.

[Exercise]

(1)Whatissourceoflaw?Fromtheperspectiveofcomparativelaw,whatarcsourcesof

privateinternationallaw?

(2)Summarizethedevelopmenttrendsofmodernprivateinternationallawlegislation.

(3)Analyzethestatusofstatuteasasourceoflawincommonlawcountries.

(4)SummarizesourcesofprivateinternationallawinChina

(5)Statetheroleofcourtsinthedevelopmentofprivateinternationallaw,andthestatusof

judicialdecisionsinChina.

ChapterThreeConflictRules

[LearningOutcomes]

BytheendofthisChapterandtherelevantreadings,youshouldbeableto:

☆Statethedefinitionandstructureofconflictrules

☆Definetheconnectingfactors

☆Distinguishunilateralconflictrulesfrommultilateralconflictrules

☆Memorizethemostimportantconnectingfactors

[KeyConceptionsorTerms]

legalcategory,attribution,connectingfactor,unilateral,multilaterd

[Exercise]

(1)Whatareconflictrules?Whatarethedifferencesbetweenconflictrulesandsubstantive

rules?

(2)Whalisaconnectingfactor?Whatisitsroleinaconflictrule?

(3)Whatare(hecategoriesofconflictrules?

(4)Whatarc(hemostimpcrlantconnectingfactors?

PartTwoABriefHistoryofPrivateInternationalLaw

ChapterOneTheEuropeanContinentalHistory

LLearningOutcomes]

BytheendofthisChapterandtherelevantreadings,youshouldbeableto:

☆UnderstandthelegalenvironmentinAncientGreeceandRomanEmpire

☆Define''personallawperiod”

☆UnderstandthebasicargumentsoftheItalian,French,andDutchSchoolofStatuteTheories

☆Comprehendtheseattheory

☆Understandtheunderliningthreadofthehistoricdevelopmentofprivateinternationallawin

theEuropeancontinent

[KeyConceptionsorTerms]

personallaw,statutetheoiy,comity,seat

【Exercise]

(1)Whydothemajorityofscholarsconcludethatconflict-of-lawsystemdidnotexistin

ancientGreeceandRome?

(2)WhatarcthenuyorargumentsofBartolus?

(3)ComparethedoctrineofD'argentreandthatofDumoulin,andanalyzethereasonsbehind

theirdifferences.

(4)WhatarcthreeaxiomsofHuber?Whyarc(heyimportantinthehistoryofprivate

inteniationallaw?

(5)WhatisthemodernfeatureofprivateinternationallawinEuropeancountries?

ChapterTwoTheAnglo-AmericanHistory

【LearningOutcomes]

BytheendofthisChapterandtherelevantreadings,youshouldbeableto:

☆Understand(helegalenvironmentinEnglandbeforethe16thcenturyanditsimpactonthe

developmentofconflictslaw

☆DefinetheVestedRightsDoctrine

☆UnderstandthelegalenvironmentintheUnitedStatesanditsimpactonthedevelopmentof

conflictslaw

☆ComprehendthemajordoctrinesappearedintheAmericanConflictsRevolution

☆EvaluatetheinfluenceoftheAmericanConflictsRevolution

[KeyConceptionsorTerms]

vestedrights,AmericanConflictsRevolution,locallaw.governmenialinterestanalysis

【CaseStudy]

Babcockv.Jackson,191N.E.2d279(N.Y.1963)

AhusbandandwifefromNewYorkwentonacartripwithafriendBabcocktoOntario.

WhileinOntariotheyhadamotorvehicleaccident.BabcocksuedJackson,thedriver,claiming

theirnegligencecaused(hecarcrash.

Thiscasebroughtupaquestionof“choiceoflaw";ifthelawoftheplaceofresidenceofthe

accidentvictims(NewYork)beapplied,or,shouldthelawof(heplaceofthetort(Ontario)be

applied.Under(heoldconflictrules,thelawoftheplaceoftheaccidentshouldapply.However,

Ontariohadalawthatprohibitedpassengersfromsuingthedriver.

Thecourtrejectedatraditionalfixedmethodofdeterminingwhichlawshouldapply,and

instead,aprocessofweighingfactorssuchasrelationshipbetweentheparty,decisiontotakethe

trip,connectionstothelocality.Thus,theCourtheldthatthepartiesdidnothavesubstantial

connectionwithOntarioandsoitwouldbeunfairtoapplythekwasthelocationwaslargely

fortuitous.TheCourtfoundthatthejurisdictionwiththemostconnectionswasNewYorkandso

NewYorklawshouldapply.

ThisisalandmarkU.S.caseonconflictoflawswhichimplied(hattheAmericanconflictslaw

abandonedthevestedrightsdoctrineandanticipatedtheAmericanConflictsRevolution.

[Exercise]

(1)WhyprivateinternationallawinEnglanddevelopedmuchlater(han(hatontheEurope

continent?

(2)Afterthe18thcentury,thelegalenvironmentinBritainhadchangedfundamentally;can

youdescribethosechangesar.danalyzetheirimpactonthedevelopmentofEnglishprivate

inteniationallaw?

(3)SummarizetheopinionofJosephStoryontheconflictoflaws.

(4)Listthemajordoctrinesthatoccurredduring(heAmericanConflictsRevolution.

ChapterThreeTheChineseHistory

【LearningOutcomes]

BytheendofthisChapterandtherelevantreadings,youshouldbeableto:

☆ComprehendthearticlesrelatedtoprivateinternationallawintheTangCode

☆UnderstandthelegalenvironmentandtraditioninancientChinesesocietyandtheirimpacton

thedevelopment

☆Define“foreignconsularjurisdiclion^^

☆UnderstandthebasiccontentoftheconflictsActof1918

☆Comprehendthehistoricdevelopmentofprivateinternationallawduringthefirstthree

decadesaftertheestablishmentofthePeople,sRepublicofChina

☆Evaluatethedevelopmentofprivateinternationallawafterthe1980sinmainlandChina

☆EvaluatethedevelopmentofprivateinternationallawaftertheBelt&RoadInitiative

【KeyConceptionsorTerms]

TangCode,foreignconsularjurisdiction,openandreform,legislation

[Exercise]

(1)WhatarethebasicconJitionsfortheexistenceanddevelopmentofprivateinternational

law?DoyoubelievethatsuchconditionsexistedinAncientChina?Why?

(2)After(hemid-19,hcentury,didChinaprovideaspawninggroundfbrprivateinternational

lawtodevelop?Why?WhyLIHongzhanglamentedthatthegreatchangesthatChinawas

witnessingatthattimehadneverhappenedduringthelastthreethousandyears?

(3)SummarizethefeaturesoftheActof1918,andtrytoprovideanobjectiveevaluation.

(4)SummarizethedevelopmentofprivateinternationallawinChinabetween1949and

1978.

(5)Summarizethedevelopmentofprivateinternationallawafter2013whenBelt&Road

Initiativewaspublished

PartThreeSubjectsofPrivateInternationalLaw

ChapterOneNaturalPersons

【LearningOutcomes]

Rytheendofthis;Chapterandtherelevantreadings,youshouldheablelo:

☆Statethedefinitionofnationalityanditslegalimplicationsbothinpublicintcniationallaw

andprivateinternationallav/

☆Understandthereasonsfortheconflictofnationalitiesandtheapproachestosolvingsuch

conflict

☆Definedomicileandihedifferenttypesofdomiciles

☆Distinguishdomicilefromhabitualresidence

【KeyConceptionsorTerms]

nationality,domicile,residence,habitualresidence

【CaseStudy]

A,whowasoriginallyaRussian,attheageoftwentiestraveledtotheUnitedStateswiththe

intentionofmakingherpermanenthomethereandacquiringanAmericannationality.Afterher

marriagewithanAmerican,sheobtainsAmericancitizenshipandanAmericandomicileby

Americanlaw,butRussiarecognizesdualcitizenship,therefore,sheisofbothAmericanand

Russiannationalities.InMay2011,shetraveledtoChinaforbusinesswhereshegotinvolvedina

civildisputewithaChinesenational.AquestionbeforetheChinesecourt,therefore,wasto

determinewhichnationalityshepossesses.ResortingtoArticle19oftheConflictsActof2010,

theChinesecourtdeemedherasanAmerican,insofarasshehasdomicile(andcertainlyhabitual

residence)intheUnitedStates.

[Exercise]

(1)Whatisnationality?Inthecontextofprivateinternationallaw,whynationalityisanimportant

definition?

(2)Howdoesconflictofnationalitiesarise?Fromtheperspectiveofcomparativelaw,whatare

theapproachestosolvingsuchconflict?

(3)SummarizethebasiccontentofChineseNationalityLaw.andanalyzethereasonswhydual

citizenshipisnotpermittedunderthisLaw.Giventheinternationalanddomesticsituationinthe

21stcentury,doyouthinkitisv/iseandnecessarytoamendthisLawtorecognizedualcitizenship?

Why?

(4)Whatisdomicile?Whatisresidence?Whatishabitualresidence?

(5)Fromtheperspectiveofcomparativelaw,whataretheapproachestosolvingtheconflictof

domiciles?

ChapterTwoLegalPersons

【LearningOutcomes]

BytheendofthisChapterandtherelevantreadings,youshouldbeableto:

☆Statethedefinitionoflegalpersonsandtheirroleininternationaleconomicexchanges

☆Understandthemajorapproachestodeterminingthenationalityofalegalpersonandtheir

respectiveadvantagesanddisadvantages

☆Definemukinationalcorporations

☆Caniprehendth?principletndeterminethenationalitycfamultinationalcorporation

☆Understand(hemajorapproachestodetenniningthedomicileofalegalpersonandtheir

respectiveadvantagesanddisadvantages

☆Statethemeanstorecognizeaforeignlegalperson

【KeyConceptionsorTerms]

legalperson,(hetheoryofcontrol,placeofestablishment,multinationalcorporation,recognition

【CaseStudy]

Wheni(wasincorporated,ShanghaiYong'anCorporationwasofAmericannationality.After

theoutbreakoftheWorldWarII,theCorporationchangeditsnationalitytoChineseinorderto

safeguarditselffromtheJapaneseoppressionuntiltheendoftheWarwhenitresumedits

Americannationality.AftertheestablishmentofthePRC,however,theChinesegovernment

classifiedtheCorporationasaChinesecorporation,disregardingitsAmericannationality,onthe

groundthatitwasinvestedbyChinesenationalsandhadbeenoperatedandcontrolledbythe

Chinesenationals.

Inthiscase,thenationalityofalegalpersonisdeterminedbythatofwhomitactually

belongsandwhocontrolsit,whchiscalled“thetheoryofcontrol”.

(Exercise]

(1)WhatisalegalpersonandhowisitsnationalitydeterminedundertheChineselaw?

(2)Whatis、'ihctheoryofcontrol”todeterminethenationalityofalegalperson?Please

evaluatethistheoryindetail.

(3)Whatisamultinationalcorporation?Howisthenationalityofamultinationalcorporation

determined?

(4)Whatarethethreemajerapproachestodeterminingthedomicileofalegalperson?

(5)Whatisrecognitionofforeignlegalpersons?Howarelawsappliedintheprocessof

recognizingaforeignlegalperson?

ChapterThreeStatesandInternationalOriginations

[LearningOutcomes]

BytheendofthisChapterandtherelevantreadings,youshouldbeableto:

☆Understandthecharacteristicsofstatesasthesubjectsofprivateofprivateinternationallaw

☆Statethemajordoctrinesoftheimmunitiesofstatesandtheirproperty

☆ComprehendChina'spositionandpracticeon(heimmunitiesofstatesandtheirproperty

☆Defineinternationalorganizationsinthischapter

☆Understandtheapplicablelawofinternationalorganizations

【KeyConceptionsorTerms]

sovereignty,immunity,absolutedoctrine,restrictivedoctrineinternationalorganizations

[CaseStudy]

ThePhilippineAdmiral,thevessel,wasownedbythePhilippinegovernment,hadwrits

issuedagainstitinHongKongbytwoshippingcorporations.InMay1973P(aHongKong

ShippingCompany)broughtactionintheSupremeCourtofHongKongagainst(heShip

(PhilippineAdmiral)forgoodssuppliedanddisbursementsmadefortheship.Thewritwasserved

onL.WhentheGovernmentoftheRepublicofthePhilippinesheardoftheactionsagainstthe

Ship,itappliedtothecourtfcrtheproceedingsbesetasideonthegroundthattheship,the

properlyoftheGovernmentwasentitledtosovereignimmunity.

ThePrivyCouncil,hearingthecaseonappealfromtheSupremeCourtofHongKong,

reviewedpreviousdecisionsonsovereignimmunityandconcludedthatitwouldnotfollowthe

PortoAlexandrecase.LordCrossgavefourreasonsfornotfollowingtheearliercase.First,that

theCourtofAppealwronglyfeltthattheywereboundbytheParleinentdecision.Secondly,

thattheHouseofLordsinTheCristinahadbeendividedontheissueofimmunityforstate-owned

vesselsengagedincommerce.Thirdly,thatthetrendofopinionwasagainsttheabsoluteimmunity

doctrine;andfourthlythatitwas"wrong'toapplythedoctrinesincestatescouldintheWestern

worldbesuedintheirowncourtsoncommercialcontractsandtherewasnoreasonwhyforeign

statesshouldnotbeequallyliabletobesued.Thus,thePrivyCouncilheldthatincaseswherea

state-ownedmerchantshipinvolvedinordinarytradewastheobjectofawrit,ilwouldnotbe

entitledtosovereignimmunityandthelitigationwouldproceed.

Thedecisionof(hiscasemarksthatBritainswitchesitspoisonontheimmunitiesofstates

andtheirpropertyfromutheAbsoluteDoctrineto"theRestrictiveDoctrine.,,

[Exercise)

(1)Asthesubjectsofprivateinternationallaw,staleshavecertaincharacteristics,whatare

thosecharacteristics?

(2)Canyousuimnarizethehistoricdevelopmentofthedoctrineofimmunitiesofstatesand

theirproperty?

(3)SummarizeChina'spositionandpracticeontheimmunitiesofstatesandtheirproperty.

(4)WhatisyoursuggestiontoChinaontheimmunitiesofstatesandtheirpropertyunderthe

B&RInitiative?

PartFourInternationalCivilJurisdiction

ChapterOneBasicTheoryofJurisdiction

[LearningOutcomes]

BytheendofthisChapterandtherelevantreadings,youshouldbeableto:

☆Definethemeaningofjurisdictioninthecontextofprivateintemalionallaw

☆Statethecategoriesofjurisdictionsfromtheperspectiveofcomparativelaw

☆Understandthereasonswh)conflictofjurisdictionsarcinevitable

☆Comprehendtheapproachestosolvingconflictofjurisdiclionsbolhatinternationalleveland

domesticlevel

【KeyConceptionsorTerms]

jurisdiction,TerriforinIjurisdiction,personaljurisdicrion.inpresotutmjurisdiction,inrein

jurisdiction

【CaseStudy]

SinochcmInternationalv.MalaysiaInternationalShippingCorp"

Acontractbetweenpetitioner(Sinochem).aChinesestate-ownedimporter,andanAmerican

corporationnotaparty(Triorient)hereprovidedthatSinochemv/ouldpurchasesteelcoilsand

thatTriorientwouldbepaidunderaletterofcreditbyproducingavalidbillofladingcertifying

thatthecoilshadbeenloadedforshipmenttoChinaonorbeforeApril30,2003.Triorient

subcharteredavesselownedbyrespondent(MalaysiaInternational),aMalaysiancompany,to

transportthecoils,andhiredastevedoringcompanytoloadthecoilsinPhiladelphia.Abillof

lading,datedApril30,2003,triggeredpaymentundertheletterofcredit.Sinochempetitioned

GuangzhouadmiraltycourtinChinaforpreservationofamaritimeclaimagainstMalaysia

Internationalandarrestofthevessel,allegingthattheMalaysiancompanyhadfalselybackdated

thebilloflading.TheChinesecourtorderedtheshiparrested,andSinochemtimelyfileda

complaintinthattribunal.TheChineseadmiraltycourtrejectedMalaysiaIntemalional's

jurisdictionalobjectionstoSinochem'scomplaintandthatrulingwasaffirmedonappeal.

ShortlyaftertheChineseadmiraltycourtorderedthevessel'sarrest,MalaysiaInternational

tiledthisactioninaUnitedStatesDistrictCourt,assertingthatSinochem'spreservationpetition

totheChinesecourtcontainedmisrepresentations,andseekingcompensationforlossessustained

duetotheship'