From May 29 to June 3, 2019, Prof. Zhixiong Huang, Vice Dean of the Law School of Wuhan University and Professor of its International Law Institute, visited the University of Sheffield and the Chatham House in the U.K. During his visit, Prof. Huang conducted academic exchanges in the field of international law in cyberspace by offering lecture and engaging in small-scale dialogues, which were well received and highly commended by the participants.

At the invitation of Prof. Nicholas Tsagourias, Director of the Sheffield Centre for International and European Law and a distinguished scholar in the field of International Law in cyberspace, Prof. Huang gave a lecture entitled “The Application of International Law in Cyberspace: Some Personal Reflections” to some researchers and students from the University of Sheffield in the afternoon of May 30. Based on his personal understanding of the topic, Prof. Huang analyzed the origin, development, controversies, and prospects of the application of international law in cyberspace. During the Q & A session, Prof. Huang also shared his views on the Chinese perspective of application of international law in cyberspace and the issue of cyber sovereignty.

Invited by Ms. Harriet Moynihan, Associate Fellow of the International Law Program of Chatham House, Prof. Zhixiong Huang attended a small group discussion on application of the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention to States’ cyber operations below the threshold of use of force on June 3. He was joined by Elizabeth Wilmshurt, distinguished fellow at the Chatham House, Prof. Nicholas Tsagourias from the Law School of University of Sheffield, and Dr. Kubo Macak, Senior Lecturer at the Law School of University of Exeter. The experts exchanged their views and ideas on how the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention can be applied to states’ intervention in the domestic affairs of other countries through low intensity cyber operations. The consultation also involved other relevant international law issues such as the principle of due diligence, cases involving espionage, and best procedures and fora for agreeing norms.

During the stay in the U.K., Prof. Zhixiong Huang also briefly visited Dr. Ruma Mandal, Head of the International Law Program at Chatham House, and discussed with Prof. Nicholas Tsagourias, Dr. Kubo Macak, and Ms. Harriet Moynihan on the possible ways to enhance future cooperation in the field of international law in cyberspace. These academic exchanges further raised the profile of Wuhan University in this increasingly important field. (Shuo LI)