Robert McLaughlin
About/Bio
Prof Rob McLaughlin is Professor of International Law at the Australian National Centre for Oceans Resources and Security, Senior Fellow at the Stockton Centre for International Law at the US Naval War College, and Honorary Professor at the Australian National University. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, and of the Royal Historical Society.
Recently Published
Some Issues in The Law Concerning Naval Auxiliaries
February 13, 2025
Robert McLaughlin
Introduction The use of non-warships and non-coast guard cutters for contest operations is a clear feature of current tensions at sea. The use of merchant vessels to cut cables in the Baltic Sea, along with harassment and presence operations by fishing vessels as part of the PRC maritime militia in the South China Sea…
Clashes in the South China Sea: Escalation at Second Thomas Shoal
Over recent months, the frequency and seriousness of interactions between PRC Coast Guard and maritime militia forces, and Philippines Coast Guard and Armed Forces units in the vicinity of Second Thomas Shoal has escalated significantly. 17 June 2024 saw an incident involving China Coast Guard (CCG) small craft blocking in and surrounding Philippine Coast Guard…
Attribution of Naval Mine Strikes in International Law
On Thursday, June 13, two ships were damaged within forty-five minutes by (current evidence suggests) limpet mines, while transiting the Gulf of Oman at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. The Japanese product tanker, Kokuka Courageous sustained damage from either a limpet mine or a projectile, just as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with Iranian Supreme Leader…
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Popular articles by Robert McLaughlin
Clashes in the South China Sea: Escalation at Second Thomas Shoal
Over recent months, the frequency and seriousness of interactions between PRC Coast Guard and maritime militia forces, and Philippines Coast Guard and Armed Forces units in the vicinity of Second Thomas Shoal has escalated significantly. 17 June 2024 saw an incident involving China Coast Guard (CCG) small craft blocking in and surrounding Philippine Coast Guard…
The Legal Status and Characterisation of Maritime Militia Vessels
June 18, 2019
Robert McLaughlin
A recent report has described how Royal Australian Navy helicopter pilots were targeted with lasers during a night flight in the South China Sea. The lasers were allegedly directed from Chinese fishing vessels – the primary cadre from which the so-called Chinese ‘maritime militia’ is drawn. Further, the incident occurred - according to another report -…
Attribution of Naval Mine Strikes in International Law
On Thursday, June 13, two ships were damaged within forty-five minutes by (current evidence suggests) limpet mines, while transiting the Gulf of Oman at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. The Japanese product tanker, Kokuka Courageous sustained damage from either a limpet mine or a projectile, just as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with Iranian Supreme Leader…