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Frontiers of Law in China

ISSN 1673-3428

ISSN 1673-3541(Online)

CN 11-5742/D

Postal Subscription Code 80-981

Front. Law China    2020, Vol. 15 Issue (4) : 481-505    https://doi.org/10.3868/s050-009-020-0027-7
ARTICLE
Difficulties Confronted by ICSID Tribunals in Deciding International Investment Corruption Cases and Possible Solutions
YIN Hongwu()
Ph.D. in International Law, School of Law, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China; Associate Professor, School of Law, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China.
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Abstract

The issue of corruption has attracted increasing attention in the study and practice of international investment law during recent years. After taking prudent consideration of the corruption defense invoked by the host states in some international investment arbitration cases involved with corruption, International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) tribunals accordingly determined the final awards. However, some parts of the arbitral jurisprudence aroused strong criticism, especially with regard to the ICSID tribunals’ reasoning that arbitrators have no jurisdiction over corruption-tainted international investments. The ICSID tribunals are legitimately supposed to exercise their jurisdiction and are lawfully obliged to probe into the nature of corrupt activities. The tribunals are strongly expected to adopt a balanced approach in deciding the merits and fairly weighing the obligations, rights, and interests of both disputing parties. It is preferable to strengthen the collaborative interaction between ICSID proceedings and domestic anti-corruption enforcement mechanisms when it comes to combating corrupt international investment activities. Existing international treaties (or specific treaty provisions) on combating corruption in international business transactions and calling for international cooperation, alongside domestic anti-corruption enforcement legislation, have actually laid solid legal foundations for the establishment of such an anti-corruption coordinative mechanism between ICSID and domestic corruption regulatory authorities on the global level.

Keywords corruption defense      arbitral jurisdiction      balanced approach      international anti-corruption coordinative mechanism      Interational Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)      investment     
Issue Date: 13 January 2021
 Cite this article:   
YIN Hongwu. Difficulties Confronted by ICSID Tribunals in Deciding International Investment Corruption Cases and Possible Solutions[J]. Front. Law China, 2020, 15(4): 481-505.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/flc/EN/10.3868/s050-009-020-0027-7
https://academic.hep.com.cn/flc/EN/Y2020/V15/I4/481
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