International arbitration is firmly established worldwide as a distinct discipline. A major component of its exponential growth in the last 15–20 years emanates from the Asia-Pacific region. In Chapter 1 we describe an Asia-Pacific arbitration craze that includes sharp increases in the case loads of its major arbitral institutions, a raft of important legislative changes, and a flurry of other regionally focussed international arbitration activity.

In its traditional centres (mainly Europe and more recently North America), international arbitration has grown into an important industry for the legal profession and has consequently become an essential subject for university legal studies. Numerous textbooks have emerged in response, but until now none focuses on the Asia-Pacific. There are several practitioners' guides on specific Asia-Pacific jurisdictions, but no book addresses the region in a subject-by-subject textbook style.

When we embarked on this project, we believed there was a need for an Asia-Pacific focused international arbitration textbook. The 2008 financial crisis has reinforced that belief. Adrian Winstanley, writing in The Asia Pacific Arbitration Review 2009 (a Global Arbitration Review publication), captured the essence of this increased need when he observed: