St. Paul's College Claims Championship at Third International Relations Cup Debate
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
The Third International Relations Cup Debate Competition concluded on Saturday, September 12, 2026, with St. Paul's College emerging as the overall champion after defeating La Salle College in a closely contested final. The event, organized by the Joint School International Relations and Diplomacy Association, drew participation from secondary school students across Hong Kong who engaged in rigorous debates on contemporary international affairs. The finals centered on the role of military force in national security, while the third-place match addressed the viability of the two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Key Points
- St. Paul's College defeated La Salle College in the final debate to claim the overall championship title at the Third International Relations Cup
- The final motion examined whether strong military capability serves as a prerequisite for national territorial security and lasting peace, with La Salle arguing for military deterrence and St. Paul's countering using examples from Japan's invasion of China during World War II and Israel-Palestine tensions
- In the third-place match, team "Moose Debaters" defeated "Debate Reform" by arguing the two-state solution remains irreplaceable for acknowledging both nations' independence and enabling UN involvement, despite the proposal being proposed 50 years ago
- Executive Advisor Yu Yinyang emphasized the competition's role in developing Hong Kong students' understanding of international affairs and nurturing future talents with global perspectives and diplomatic literacy
- Senior Counsel Wang Mingfeng praised both finalists for excellent preparation and urged debaters to avoid falling into opponents' rhetorical traps during counterarguments
- Dr. Huang Yushun highlighted the importance of burden of proof, example application, and logical progression of arguments throughout the debate rounds
- Dr. Kong Yingle encouraged students to analyze international relations from the perspectives of diplomats and international organizations, noting Hong Kong's role as China's most internationalized city
- Professor Li Wen advised debaters to incorporate more current news events and examine causal relationships between historical examples and their arguments
Why It Matters
The competition reflects growing interest among Hong Kong secondary school students in international relations and diplomacy, with organizers emphasizing the importance of evidence-based analysis in an era of competing narratives. As geostrategic tensions reshape global affairs, nurturing a generation of analytically rigorous young minds capable of nuanced understanding of complex international issues positions Hong Kong to contribute meaningfully to diplomatic discourse and professional exchanges on the world stage .
The competition reflects growing interest among Hong Kong secondary school students in international relations and diplomacy, with organizers emphasizing the importance of evidence-based analysis in an era of competing narratives. As geostrategic tensions reshape global affairs, nurturing a generation of analytically rigorous young minds capable of nuanced understanding of complex international issues positions Hong Kong to contribute meaningfully to diplomatic discourse and professional exchanges on the world stage .