Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Under the International Law Framework: From the Perspective of Judicial Review Boundaries in the Implementation of the New York Convention

Mei Gan*
Nanchang Labor Security Affairs Agency Center, Nanchang 330000, China
*Corresponding email: 15206705105@163.com
https://doi.org/10.71052/jsdh/IOBL7001

The Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (hereinafter the “New York Convention”) has established a global legal framework centered on the principle of “pro-enforcement”. Over nearly seven decades, one might expect this path to have widened with time. Yet Article V of the Convention, which enumerates the grounds for refusal, has been interpreted in widely divergent ways by judges across different jurisdictions. The truly vexing question is this: Where exactly should the line be drawn between respecting the finality of arbitral awards and safeguarding national judicial sovereignty? The Convention text offers no explicit answer, but in practice, the question is inescapable. This article proceeds along the central thread of Article V, examining the issue through four lenses: the public policy exception, the fate of annulled awards, the boundary review of arbitrability, and the new variables introduced by emerging technologies. Turning to China’s approach, this article ultimately advances three propositions – on the review boundary, replace domestic standards with “international public policy”. On annulled awards, substitute the territorial approach with an “international annulment standard”. On interpretive direction, narrow rather than expand the scope wherever possible. At bottom, the aim is to identify a workable coordination mechanism between Convention obligations and domestic judicial sovereignty.

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Share and Cite
Gan, M. (2026) Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Under the International Law Framework: From the Perspective of Judicial Review Boundaries in the Implementation of the New York Convention. Journal of Social Development and History, 2(2), 60-64. https://doi.org/10.71052/jsdh/IOBL7001

Published

03/08/2026