CEALS Releases 22-23 Annual Report

On June 1, CEALS was honored to release its first Annual Report. Our inaugural year as the Center for East Asian Legal Studies (CEALS) was a momentous one and provided new opportunities to build on seven years of work with the East Asian Legal Studies Program. The global pandemic waned, cross-border scholarly and professional exchange recovered, and historic developments across the Pacific Rim reinforced the critical importance of exchange and research on East Asian law and policy. As Xi Jinping secured a third term as China’s core leader, rising U.S.-China tensions created complex compliance challenges for multinational companies and focused new attention on law as tool of strategic and economic competition. In the wake of these emerging challenges, Japan and other East Asian countries re-examined their relations with China, the United States, and each other.

During the 22-23 academic year, CEALS offered expert insights on these and other developments through a range of specialized courses, research collaborations, and programs. Our public events series brought leading scholars and lawyers to campus to explore topics including U.S.-China legal competition, expanding opportunities for U.S. lawyers in Japan, and legal and policy issues at the heart of tensions in the Taiwan Strait. We welcomed two new Affiliated Scholars with deep expertise on the legal systems of Japan and China, and a Visiting Scholar from Korea. Twelve students produced substantial research papers on a diverse range of current topics in our research seminar on China and the International Legal Order. In Japan, our Senior Director strengthened cross-border scholarly networks and directed a major project on structural changes in the Tokyo bar. We hope you enjoy learning more about these and other programs our Annual Report, and we look forward to engaging with you in the year ahead!