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  • In the pursuit of scientific knowledge, This house would continue the development of Dual-use research of concern (DURC) in biotechnology

    Infoslide

    Dual-use research of concern (DURC) describes research that is intended to provide a clear benefit, but which could easily be misapplied to do harm. This may include the creation of modified viruses to better understand how they function which may risk the use of them to infect animals and people, or the development of aerosol methods to help treat asthma which may be used to improve biological weapons like anthrax, etc.

    VDC Contentions 2025 (English) · Round 4 · 2025-08-28

  • This house believes that states should be permitted to hire mercenaries with full combatant protection under IHL.

    Infoslide

    Under International Humanitarian Law, mercenaries are not granted full legal protection compared to combatants, Which includes prisoner-of-war status, combatant privilege, and repatriation rights.

    2nd PRC IHL Debate Open · Pre-finals · 2025-08-25

  • This house, as Rumi, would accept the deal with Gwi-Ma.

    Infoslide

    Unknown to the civilian population is the demon realm. This realm supplies demons, who are actually the source and origin of all international conflict and human rights violations. You are Rumi, a "demon-hunter". As the only demon-hunter, you are the only person who knows of the existence of the demon realm and the real reason behind the existence of international conflict. However, Gwi-Ma, the king of the demon realm, approached you to propose an agreement that if you cease from stopping their operations and refrain from killing demons for a period of 20 years, they will grant eternal peace and the world will experience no more global conflict. This agreement and promise is guaranteed. You are now PRESENTED with a decision to either continue your operations and try to kill demons with no guaranteed chance of success, or agree to the negotiation.

    2nd PRC IHL Debate Open · Round 2 · 2025-08-25

  • This house believes that journalists working for state-controlled media outlets with lacking editorial independence should not be granted protection under IHL when reporting during armed conflicts.

    Infoslide

    Editorial independence refers to the freedom of journalists and media organizations to make content decisions (including what to report, who to report, and how to report it) without pressure and/or censorship from the government. Examples of State-Controlled Media Organizations are People’s Television (Philippines), China Central Television Network, and Russia Today.

    2nd PRC IHL Debate Open · Round 1 · 2025-08-25

  • This house supports India's pivot in foreign policy doctrine towards military retaliation over strategic restraint

    Infoslide

    Demonstrative military retaliation refers to a doctrine where the state responds to cross-border attacks or provocations with visible, limited, and targeted military action. Strategic restraint refers to a doctrine where the state deliberately avoids overt military escalation in response to provocations

    K Pre-ABP Debate 2025 · Round 3 · 2025-08-23

  • This house, as the SAARC, would establish a joint military arm

    Infoslide

    The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has eight member countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka) It was primarily established to expedite socio-economic progress in the South Asian region.

    7th Bicol Debate Open 2025 · Semifinals · 2025-08-23

  • This House believes that the European Union should prioritize strategic autonomy through initiatives like ReArm Europe over continued reliance on NATO.

    Infoslide

    ReArm Europe is a European Union defense initiative launched in 2025, aiming to strengthen Europe's military capabilities. It includes joint procurement, increased national defense spending, and investment in European defense industries. The plan seeks to reduce dependence on U.S. military support and enhance Europe's ability to respond independently to security threats.

    Friday Night Debates 2025: An African Debate Super League · First Leg Round Robbin 1 · 2025-08-22

  • This house believes that ASEAN should abandon the China-ASEAN South China Sea Code of Conduct negotiations.

    Infoslide

    The China-ASEAN South China Sea Code of Conduct negotiations seek to manage inter-state relations within the South China Sea area and address disputes over territorial claims in the contested waters. The COC is based on a 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed by China and the 10 ASEAN States. Both ASEAN and China have agreed to complete the COC by 2025.

    Friday Night Debates 2025: An African Debate Super League · Power Pair 11 · 2025-08-22

  • This house supports the EU's push for "strategic autonomy" in defence

    Infoslide

    EU strategic autonomy refers to the European Union's capacity to act independently in key policy areas, particularly in security and defense, without undue reliance on other global powers through NATO. For example, in the "Readiness 2030" initiative, European nations would commit to raising up to €800 billion for defense investments over the coming years.

    Vietnam Debate Open 2025 · Grand Final · 2025-08-20

  • This house believes that the Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have done more harm than good

    Infoslide

    Between 13–24 June 2025, Israel conducted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites including Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan, and the Arak reactor, as well as various military and government facilities. Several Iranian officials and scientists were killed.

    Vietnam Debate Open 2025 · Grand Final · 2025-08-20

  • This house would prohibit nations from militarising disputed cultural or religious sites.

    Infoslide

    Militarisation involves deploying troops, establishing bases, or using military infrastructure in contested locations. Cultural or religious sites are sometimes fortified, escalating disputes. For instance, Cambodia and Thailand stationed forces at the Preah Vihear Temple, a disputed heritage site, sparking tensions that developed into armed clashes.

    Swinburne Sarawak Inter-School Debating Championship 2025 (Senior) · Quarterfinals · 2025-08-18

  • This House Believes the United Nations should focus solely on diplomacy, not military intervention

    Infoslide

    The United Nations was founded in 1945 to maintain peace through diplomacy, cooperation, and conflict prevention. Over time, however, it has increasingly relied on military peacekeeping and armed interventions, deviating from its original role as a neutral peace-maker and mediator of disputes.

    Swinburne Sarawak Inter-School Debating Championship 2025 (Senior) · Quarterfinals · 2025-08-18

  • This house, as a state combating an ethno-nationalist insurgency, prefers to face a geographically clustered insurgent movement over a geographically concentrated one.

    Infoslide

    Geographically clustered insurgent forces are spread out across multiple separate locations or pockets, where the leadership and the bases of the insurgency is heavily decentralized. Whereas geographically concentrated insurgent forces are consolidated in a contiguous territory.

    Kasiyana Open 2025 · Quarterfinals · 2025-08-16

  • This house, as an Eldian living in Marley, W volunteer to become a Warrior Candidate

    Infoslide

    You are a member of a persecuted ethnic minority known as the Eldians, living in a powerful and militaristic country called Marley. Historically, Eldians were responsible for brutal wars and atrocities using a unique biological power that allowed them to transform into massive superhuman weapons called Titans. Because of this legacy, Eldians are now treated as second-class citizens. Eldians are forced to live in segregated zones. They face systemic racism and cannot marry outside their group, they are underpaid, socially marginalized, and constantly discriminated against. However, Marley depends on Eldians for its military strength because only they possessed the power to become Titans. This transformation only occurs when they are injected with a substance called Titan serum, which is exclusively controlled by Marley. Once transformed, they can shift into and out of their Titan forms at will — they are not permanently trapped in that shape. The Marleyan government recruits 9 Eldian teenagers every 13 years into an elite program to become Warrior candidates - this program trains them to inherit these Titan powers which they later use to fight in Marley's wars. If chosen, you and your immediate family are granted the rare status of “Honorary Marleans”, giving you greater rights and you are treated as heroes. Those who gain this power die 13 years after receiving it. You are an Eldian youth living under this system. You now can join the program and become Marley’s warrior candidate.

    St Andrews pre-EUDC 2025 · Round 1 · 2025-08-13

  • This house prefers a world where Bush pursued military strikes against Iran

    Infoslide

    The year is 2007. Amid growing concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, the Bush administration faces pressure from Israel to take military action against Iranian nuclear sites. Two main options are considered: launching a full-scale military strike or pursuing a covert cyber operation. Ultimately, President George W. Bush rejects a military invasion and approves the development of Stuxnet, a joint U.S.-Israeli cyberattack that is meant to target Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility and delay its enrichment capabilities.

    St Andrews pre-EUDC 2025 · Grand Final · 2025-08-13

  • The translation of the text is: "This parliament (as Alan Turing) will not share the codes obtained from Enigma with the British military."

    Infoslide

    During World War II, the Enigma code, used for military communications by the Axis powers, posed a significant challenge for British scientists. After much effort, in 1940, Alan Turing and his team developed a prototype machine capable of breaking the Enigma code for the first time. Through this prototype, they decoded the first message, which revealed that the German forces were preparing to attack a passenger cruise ship carrying 500 passengers that night. This situation presented Turing with a deep moral dilemma. Turing could have informed the British military to save the lives of the 500 passengers. However, by doing so, the German forces would have realized that the British had broken their Enigma code. Consequently, they would have changed their communication methods, making future messages impossible to decode. On the other hand, if Turing sacrificed the lives of the 500 passengers, the secrecy of the information obtained from Enigma would be maintained. This information could definitely help the Allied forces achieve victory in the war in the future, possibly saving more lives on a larger scale and altering the course of the war.

    BUFTDC National IC 2025 · Round 3 · 2025-08-05