Wang Tieya
Encyclopedia
Wang Tieya was an eminent Chinese jurist and former Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
.
Wang Tieya was educated at Tsinghua University
and the London School of Economics
.
Following the communist
victory in 1949, Wang Tieya became one of the leading authorities on international law
in the People's Republic of China
, along with Li Haopei
, one of his classmates in London. Wang was legal advisor to the PRC delegation to the United Nations
in 1950 and the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1979.
Wang Tieya had an illustrious academic career, commencing as Professor of International Law at the National Wuhan University
(1940-1942) and National Central University
(1942-1946). In 1946, he relocated to Beijing University, where he remained until 1997. During that time, he was Chairman of the Political Science Department (1947-1952), and Head of the Section on International Law at the Faculty of Law (1956-1983). In 1983 Wang became the founding Director of the International Law Institute of Beijing University.
Following the Open Door Policy
in China, Wang Tieya was feted abroad. He was a visiting Scholar at Columbia Law School
(1980-1989), visiting Professor to the Hague Academy of International Law
(1984), and also taught at the University of British Columbia
(1988), and the University of California
(1989). Wang became a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
. He was also a member and then honorary member of l’Institut de Droit International and a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science
.
For many years he was involved in the Chinese Yearbook of International Law, and also oversaw the publication of the English language
Chinese Journal of International Law in 2002.
Wang was elected in 1997 as a Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
. In March 2000, he resigned for reasons of ill-health. After almost 20 months of hospitalisation, Wang died in a hospital in Beijing on 12 January 2003. His funeral was held five days later at Babao Shan, a venue normally reserved for state officials. He was survived by his wife and three daughters.
Upon learning of the death of Judge Wang Tieya, the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Judge Claude Jorda
, expressed his "great sadness at the loss of a distinguished colleague who will be remembered as a learned lawyer and a wise Judge. He was also a dedicated colleague and a gentle man who brought to the bench his great experience in the field of international law".
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
.
Wang Tieya was educated at Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
and the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
Following the communist
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
victory in 1949, Wang Tieya became one of the leading authorities on international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, along with Li Haopei
Li Haopei
Li Haopei was a Chinese jurist, diplomat and academic. He was a leading authority on international law.Li attended Soochow University and received his Bachelor and Master's of laws in 1928 and 1930 respectively...
, one of his classmates in London. Wang was legal advisor to the PRC delegation to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in 1950 and the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1979.
Wang Tieya had an illustrious academic career, commencing as Professor of International Law at the National Wuhan University
Wuhan University
Wuhan University is a university located in Wuchang, Hubei, China. It is directly under the administration of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. It is regarded as one of the top ten universities in China, and its history dates back to 1893, making it one of China's...
(1940-1942) and National Central University
National Central University
National Central University is a national comprehensive university in Taiwan .National Central University was founded in 1915 and originated in 258 CE at Nanjing, China. After NCU in Nanjing was renamed Nanjing University in 1949, NCU was re-established in Taiwan in 1962...
(1942-1946). In 1946, he relocated to Beijing University, where he remained until 1997. During that time, he was Chairman of the Political Science Department (1947-1952), and Head of the Section on International Law at the Faculty of Law (1956-1983). In 1983 Wang became the founding Director of the International Law Institute of Beijing University.
Following the Open Door Policy
Open Door Policy
The Open Door Policy is a concept in foreign affairs, which usually refers to the policy in 1899 allowing multiple Imperial powers access to China, with none of them in control of that country. As a theory, the Open Door Policy originates with British commercial practice, as was reflected in...
in China, Wang Tieya was feted abroad. He was a visiting Scholar at Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
(1980-1989), visiting Professor to the Hague Academy of International Law
Hague Academy of International Law
The Hague Academy of International Law is a center for high-level education in both public and private international law housed in the Peace Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands...
(1984), and also taught at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
(1988), and the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
(1989). Wang became a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
Permanent Court of Arbitration
The Permanent Court of Arbitration , is an international organization based in The Hague in the Netherlands.-History:The court was established in 1899 as one of the acts of the first Hague Peace Conference, which makes it the oldest institution for international dispute resolution.The creation of...
. He was also a member and then honorary member of l’Institut de Droit International and a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science
World Academy of Art and Science
The World Academy of Art and Science is an international non-governmental scientific organization, an informal and non-official world network of individual fellows elected for distinguished accomplishments in the fields of natural and social sciences, arts and the humanities...
.
For many years he was involved in the Chinese Yearbook of International Law, and also oversaw the publication of the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Chinese Journal of International Law in 2002.
Wang was elected in 1997 as a Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
. In March 2000, he resigned for reasons of ill-health. After almost 20 months of hospitalisation, Wang died in a hospital in Beijing on 12 January 2003. His funeral was held five days later at Babao Shan, a venue normally reserved for state officials. He was survived by his wife and three daughters.
Upon learning of the death of Judge Wang Tieya, the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Judge Claude Jorda
Claude Jorda
Claude Jorda is a French jurist and former Judge at the International Criminal Court . He resigned "for reasons of permanent ill-health". Previously, he had been a Judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia since January 1994.-External links:*...
, expressed his "great sadness at the loss of a distinguished colleague who will be remembered as a learned lawyer and a wise Judge. He was also a dedicated colleague and a gentle man who brought to the bench his great experience in the field of international law".