Part III Regional Regimes, Ch.21 Regional Refugee Regimes: East Asia

The fives States and eight jurisdictions in East Asia are mostly densely populated and homogeneous, but are diverse in term of their political and legal systems, economic development and positions in relation to refugee movements. The region currently does not have its own regional arrangement relating to refugee protection or human rights. This chapter examines and compares aspects of the refugee protection system in East Asian States, focusing on China, Japan and South Korea, all of which are a party to the Refugee Convention and Protocol. It provides a brief history of refugee laws in these States, critically evaluates legal and policy measures they have taken to implement the Convention and Protocol and looks at the roles of the judiciary and civil society in refugee protection in these States. In conclusion, it outlines the areas of convergence and diversity of refugee protection system in these States as well as the implication of international refugee law in East Asia.