Abstract
The Newport Manual, published in 2023, reflects the law as it exists (lex lata), prevailing rules governing naval warfare as States have recognized and employed them in the past and present, as we have moved from the era of the post-Cold War to the great Power Competition.
This manual has been prepared for the practical application of the law of naval warfare by naval and joint force commanders, staff officers, legal advisors, and other practitioners as new areas of review emerge in line with advances in science and technology. As noted in the preface to the Japanese edition by Professors James Kraska and Pete Pedrozo of U.S. Naval War College, this manual is also the only one that incorporates the experience of Japan, the United States, Australia, and India navies in the Indo-Pacific region, which will help to enhance interoperability among allies and friends.
This article provides an overview and necessary explanations of 20 topics in the Newport Manual, including the status of ships and crews, mines and mine laying, restrictions on the immediate vicinity of naval operations, law of neutrality, and non-international armed conflict
