From October 2 to 6, coinciding with the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), experts in aerospace technology and space law converged for the 32nd Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition in Baku, Azerbaijan. After excelling in the national rounds, 77 teams from the five global regions gathered to compete in the international arena. Following intense preliminary, semi-final, and final rounds, CUPL's team secured the global championship and the Best Memorials Award. This landmark victory marks the first time a Chinese team has advanced this far since the competition's inception and the first time a Chinese team has won a global English moot court competition.
The Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition, initiated by the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) in 1992, is an annual, world-class moot court competition named after renowned international jurist and the longest-serving former Justice of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Manfred Lachs. With 32 editions to date, it stands as one of the most prestigious moot court competitions globally. Notably, the finals feature three sitting judges from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In this year's final, Judge Peter Tomka from Slovakia chaired the proceedings, alongside Judge Xue Hanqin from China and Judge Leonardo Nemer Caldeira Brant from Brazil.
The final, held in the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan, saw CUPL's team face off against the University of Cologne, a longstanding powerhouse in space law moot court competitions. Attended by experts and scholars from organizations such as the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) and the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), the competition witnessed 70 minutes of intense defense. CUPL's team, representing the responding side, emerged victorious, claiming the global championship.
CUPL's team, coached by Tang Ya from the School of International Law, comprised student coaches Wu Yating, Shi Siyuan, and Ruan Haoyang from the 2019 undergraduate cohort, and team members Bao Handong, Zhuo Linling, and Huang Rixin from the 2020 undergraduate cohort. Training commenced in October 2022, involving meticulous preparations in legal research, case studies, memorial writing, and oral pleading. The team's outstanding performance across all rounds reflects their dedication and resilience.
In recent years, CUPL's moot court teams have consistently set new records in various global competitions, including the International Criminal Court Moot Court English Competition and the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. This success underscores CUPL's commitment to cultivating rule of law talents on the international stage, aligning with the principles of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.
