Name: YAO Ying
Position: Professor, Doctoral Supervisor (Ph.D. Advisor)
Address: School of Law, Jilin University, No. 2699 Qianjin Avenue, Changchun, Jilin Province 130012, China
Email: yaoying@jlu.edu.cn
Biography
Ying Yao is Professor and Ph.D. Supervisor at the School of Law, Jilin University. Her research focuses on Public International Law, the Law of the Sea, Treaty Law, Maritime Law, and Foreign-Related Rule of Law. She has published extensively on international maritime governance, dispute settlement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), maritime security, and China’s participation in the development of international law.
Professor Yao has served as a visiting scholar at the University of Calgary and as an Edwards Fellow at Columbia Law School. She has also worked as an exchange scholar with the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
Research Areas
Courses Taught
Undergraduate Courses
Public International Law
International Economic Law
International Maritime Law
International Relations and International Law
Graduate Courses
International Treaty Law
International Relations and International Law
International Commercial Law
Arbitration Law
National Security Studies
Education
Ph.D. in Law, Jilin University (2004–2008)
LLM. inInternationalLaw, Jilin University (2001–2004)
LL.B., Jilin University (1997–2001)
Academic Experience
Visiting Scholar, University of Calgary, Canada (September–December 2016)
Exchange Scholar, Department of Treaty and Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (July–December 2014)
Edwards Fellow, Columbia Law School, Columbia University, United States (January 2013–January 2014)
Professional Appointments and Memberships
Governmental and Judicial Appointments
Special Consultant, Sixth Advisory Committee of the Supreme People's Court of China
Member, First Expert Advisory Committee of the High People's Court of Jilin Province
Legal Expert, National Border and Coastal Defense Affairs
Legal Expert, Northern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army
Distinguished Professor, Shanghai Courts
Legal Consultation Expert, Changchun Municipal Government
Arbitration Practice
Arbitrator, Guangzhou Arbitration Commission
Arbitrator and Foreign-Related Arbitrator, Changchun Arbitration Commission
Arbitrator, Shenyang Arbitration Commission
Ad Hoc Arbitrator, Hainan Arbitration Association
Practicing Lawyer (Part-time)
Academic Associations
Council Member, Chinese Society of International Law
Council Member, China Society for the Law of the Sea
Council Member, China Maritime Law Association
Executive Council Member, Yangtze River Maritime Law Society
Member, Maritime Law Professional Committee, China Institute of Navigation
Vice President, Jilin Arbitration Law Research Association
Executive Vice President, Jilin Association for Foreign-Related Rule of Law Studies
Executive Council Member and Deputy Secretary-General, Natural Resources Law Research Association, Pacific Society of China
Council Member, The Research Association for Marine Rights Protection and Law Enforcement , Pacific Society of China
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
1. “The Risk of Disorder and Mitigation Approaches in the International Maritime Legal Order in the South China Sea Region” Pacific Journal, No. 11 (2025).
2. “The Issue of Admissibility in the Jurisdictional Decision of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.” Nanjing UniversityLaw Review, No. 1 (2025).
3. “Foreign-Related Rule of Law for Oceans:Background,Connotations and Paths” Wuhan University International Law Review, No. 4 (2022).
4. “Application of Provisional Measures of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and Its Implications” Local Legislation Journal, No. 5 (2022).
5. “An Interpretation of the Maritime Thought of CPC from the Perspective of International Law:History, Practice and a Vision for the Rule of Law” The Journal of South China Sea Studies, No. 1 (2022).
6. “The Contribution of the CPC's Maritime Strategy to the Development of the International Law of the Sea” Jilin University Journal Social Sciences Edition, No. 1 (2021).
7. “The International Law Meaning of‘Marine Community of Shared Future’:Concept Innovation and System Construction”, Contemporary Law Review, No. 5(2019)(Reproduced by International Law, International Center for Social Sciences, RUC).
8. “On the Construction of South China Sea Marine Protected Area from the Perspective of a Community of Shared Future for Mankind: Realistic Requirements, Theoretical Basis and China’s Countermeasures”, Journal of Guangxi University (Philosophy and Social Science), No. 4(2019)
9. “On the Construction of South China Sea Marine Protected Area from the Perspective of a Community ofShared Future for Mankind: Realistic Requirements, Theoretical Basis and China's Countermeasures”, Journal of Guangxi University(Philosophy and Social Science), No. 3(2017).
10. “On the Determination of the Status of Maritime Features in the Award of the South China Sea Arbitration: Legal Paradox and China's Countermeasures”, Jilin University Journal Social Sciences Edition, No. 2(2017).
11. “Review on Award on Jurisdiction and Admissibility of the South China Sea Arbitration Initiated by the Philippines: the Interpretation of UNCLOS Article 298”,Chinese Yearbook of International Law: On Issues of Jurisdiction of the South China Sea Arbitration, Beijing: Law Press(2016).
12. “Regional Cooperation for Marine Environmental Protection: Realistic Basis, Value Goal, and Implementation Path", Study & Exploration, Serial No. 12(2015).
13. “A Comment on the Case Bay of Bengal Maritime Boundary Arbitration between Bangladesh and India: Its Implication on South China Sea Arbitration Case between the Philippines and China”, Contemporary Law Review, No. 4(2015).(Reproduced by International Law, International Center for Social Sciences, RUC).
14. “On the Emission Reduction Challenges faced by China in the Negotiation of Durban Platform”,Law Science, Serial No. 9(2014).
15. “Approach on the Regulation of the GHG Emission by the Law about Prevention and Treatment of Air Pollution”,Environmental Protection, No. 18(2014).
16. “Chinese Approach to Solve the Sino-Philippines Dilemma on South China Sea”,Humanities & Social Sciences Journal of Hainan University, No. 4(2014).
17. “An Inquiry into Possible Approach on Governing the Reduction of GHG Emission from International Shipping from the Perspective of the Principle of CBDR”,Contemporary Law ReviewNo. 1(2012).
18. “A Study on Legal Mechanism of Energy Cooperation in Northeast Asia”, Journal of the Party School of CPC Changchun Municipal Committee, Serial,No. 4(2012).
19. “Reflection on the ‘Way of Balance’in the Rotterdam Rules and on China’s Practical Choice”, Annual of China Maritime Law, No. 2(2011). (Reproduced by International Law, International Center for Social Sciences, RUC)
20. “An Inquiry into Judicial Approach to Solve Sino-Japan Dispute on East China Sea”,Contemporary Law Review,No. 3(2011).
21. “Approach Choice of Marine Environment Cooperation in North East Asia”, Contemporary Law Review, No. 5(2010).
22. “Reflections on the Major Reform of the Carrier’s Obligation of ‘Delivery of Goods’with Production of B/L in the Rotterdam Rules”, Contemporary Law Review, No. 6(2009). (Reproduced by Law Digest, International Center for Social Sciences, RUC).
23. “Study on Transfer of Rights——from the Perspective of the Draft Instrument on Transport Law proposed by UNCITRAL”, Contemporary Law Review, No. 3(2008).
24. “Reflections on the Amendment of Maritime Law Principle of Insurable Interest of Marine Insurance”, Contemporary Law Review, No.3 (2007).
25. “Attempts to Return to Freedom of Contract in the Arena of Public Transportation”, China Oceans Law Review, No.2,(2007).
26. “Symposium of 60 Years of the UN: UN Status in Peace-keeping from the perspective of UN Collective Security Mechanism”, in Contemporary Law Review, No. 5(2005).
Research Grants and Funded Projects (Principal Investigator)
1. Chief Expert, Major Research Special Project of the National Social Science Fund of China (2024) (Grant No. 24VHQ018).
2. Principal Investigator, General Higher Education Teaching Reform Project of the Jilin Provincial Department of Education (2026), Reforming the International Commercial Law Course for the Cultivation of Foreign-Related Rule of Law Talents.
3. Principal Investigator, Key Research Project of the China Law Society (2025), Improving the National Foreign-Related Security Rule of Law System (Grant No. CLS(2025)B03).
4. Principal Investigator, Central Government Research Project (2025) (Grant No. 2025L064J00077).
5. Principal Investigator, Commissioned Project of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Changchun Municipal Committee and the Changchun Law Society (2025), Strengthening Research on Foreign-Related Rule of Law to Better Serve Jilin’s High-Quality Development and High-Level Opening-Up (Grant No. CCPLAC&CCLS2025W07).
6. Principal Investigator, Jilin University Special Project on National Development and Security Studies (2024), International Governance of Autonomous Weapon Systems: Practical Demands, Major-Power Divergences, and China’s Approach (Grant No. GAY2024ZXY05).
7. Principal Investigator, Commissioned Project of the East China Sea Institute, Ningbo University (2023), Practical Challenges in Resolving China–Japan East China Sea Disputes and China’s Response Strategies (Grant No. DHZL2023ZD03).
8. Principal Investigator, Second Batch of Professional Degree Graduate Teaching Case Projects of Jilin Province (2023).
9. Subproject Leader, Major Research Project on Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, Ministry of Education (2022) (Grant No. 2022JZDZ005), Coordinated Advancement of Domestic Rule of Law and Foreign-Related Rule of Law Studies; responsible for the subproject Theoretical Construction of the Coordinated Advancement of Domestic and Foreign-Related Rule of Law.
10. Principal Investigator, First-Class Course Support Project under the Young Faculty Teaching Support Program, Jilin University School of Law (2021), International Economic Law I.
11. Principal Investigator, Commissioned Project of the Department of Treaty and Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (2021).
12. Principal Investigator, Commissioned Project of the Department of Treaty and Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (2020).
13. Subproject Leader, Major Special Project of the National Social Science Fund of China, Research on Building China into a Maritime Power in the New Era (Grant No. 18VHQ001); responsible for the subproject Legal Practice for Promoting a Maritime Community with a Shared Future in China’s Neighboring Seas.
14. Principal Investigator, National Social Science Fund of China Project (2017), Positive-Law Foundations and Pathways for Applying the Regime of Oceanic Archipelagos to the South China Sea Islands (Grant No. 17BFX215).
15. Principal Investigator, China Law Society Project (2016), Legal Issues Concerning China’s Application of the Archipelagic Regime in the South China Sea (Grant No. CLS(2016)D161).
Books and Teaching Materials
Professor Yao has participated in the compilation of numerous textbooks and reference works in international law, law of the sea, international economic law, and legal professional qualification examinations. Representative publications include:
1. International Economic Law (Law Press China, 2024)
2. Law of the Sea (5th ed., China Renmin University Press, 2023)
3. Principles of International Law (Higher Education Press, 2017)
4. International Law (Tsinghua University Press, 2014)
5. Introduction to International Law (Law Press China, 2018)
Honors and Awards
Excellence Award for Undergraduate Teaching Quality, Jilin University (2020–2021)
Third Prize for Outstanding Academic Paper, China Society for the Law of the Sea (2020)
Yue Cheng Teaching Award, Jilin University School of Law (2019)
Outstanding Grassroots Party Worker, Jilin University (2019)
Advanced Individual of Provincial Law Society System (2013–2017)
Advanced Scholar in Humanities and Social Sciences Research Evaluation, Jilin University (2015)
Second Prize in University-Level Teaching Achievement Awards (2013)
Third Prize, Second Young Faculty Teaching Competition, Jilin University (2005)
