菲律宾南海仲裁案违反国际法理

　　The South China Sea Arbitration Case Initiated by the Philippines Violates International Law

　　中国驻阿联酋大使 常华

　　Chang Hua, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the UAE

　　2016年5月13日

　　May 13, 2016

　　2013年1月，菲律宾单方面强行就中菲南海争议提起仲裁。菲律宾单方面提起仲裁，无视中菲之间已经形成通过谈判协商解决争端的共识和菲在《南海各方行为宣言》中的郑重承诺，无视中国作为主权国家和《联合国海洋法公约》缔约国享有的自主选择争端解决机制和程序的权利，滥用《公约》强制争端解决机制，企图以所谓的《公约》解释和适用问题来掩盖中菲争议的实质是领土和海域划界争议，企图以《公约》来否定《联合国宪章》尊重他国领土主权完整的义务，混淆视听，为自己非法侵占中国南沙群岛部分岛礁的行为张目，构成对地区和平稳定的严重威胁。

　　In January 2013, the Philippines unilaterally initiated compulsory arbitration proceedings with respect to the disputes with China in the South China Sea. The Philippines unilaterally initiated the arbitration, disregarding the consensus between China and the Philippines on settling relevant disputes through negotiations and consultations, the solemn commitment of the Philippines in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and the legitimate rights that China enjoys as a sovereign state and a contracting party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (the “Convention”) to independently choose dispute settlement mechanisms and procedures. It abused the compulsory procedures for dispute settlement under the Convention in order to cover up the territorial and maritime delimitation nature of the disputes between China and the Philippines with the so-called “interpretation and application of the Convention”, to use the Convention as a pretext to negate the obligation under the UN Charter to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries, and to mislead the public and defend its illegal occupation of some maritime features of China’s Nansha Islands. The act of the Philippines constitutes a grave threat to peace and stability in the region.

　　南海诸岛自古就是中国领土。历代中国政府通过行政设制、军事巡航、生产经营、海难救助等方式持续对南海诸岛及相关海域进行管辖。日本在发动全面侵华战争后，侵占了中国西沙、南沙群岛。《开罗宣言》和《波茨坦公告》明确规定，日本应归还窃取的中国领土。抗战胜利后，中国收复西沙、南沙群岛，在岛上派兵驻守并建立各类军事、民事设施，从法律和事实上恢复对南海诸岛行使主权。

　　The islands in the South China Sea have been Chinese territory since ancient times. The successive Chinese governments have exercised jurisdiction over them through administrative management, military navigation, production and operation. Japan seized Xisha and Nansha Islands after it launched the war of aggression against China. Both the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation state in explicit terms that all the territories stolen from China by Japan shall be returned to China. Since the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, China has recovered Xisha and Nansha Islands, and stationed troops and set up various military and civil facilities on the islands. Thus, in terms of both law and facts, China has resumed its sovereignty over these islands in the South China Sea.

　　中国政府坚持不接受、不参与菲律宾南海仲裁案的立场，是基于该案违背基本的国际法理，是为了维护和践行国际法治。首先，菲律宾单方面提起仲裁违背双方谈判协商解决争端的共识，违反“约定必须遵守”这一国际法基本原则。第二，菲律宾单方面提起仲裁违反《公约》规定，侵犯中国自主选择争端解决方式的权利。第三，菲律宾单方面提起仲裁违反仲裁的一般法理。根据国际法理，仲裁应在自愿的原则上，由当事国共同提起。第四，菲律宾单方面提起仲裁是其领土扩张行为的延续和发展，侵犯中国领土主权。

　　The firm position of the Chinese government to not accept or participate in the arbitration is based on the fact that the arbitration violates basic international law and aims to defend and practice relevant international rule of law.First, the Philippines’ unilateral initiation of the arbitration runs counter to the consensus between the two sides on settling disputes through negotiation and consultation and violates the basic norm of pacta sunt servanda in international law.Second, the Philippines’ unilateral initiation of the arbitration runs counter to the stipulations of UNCLOS and infringes on China’s right to independently choose methods of dispute settlement.Third, the Philippines’ unilateral initiation of the arbitration runs counter to the basic legal principles for arbitration. According to the principles of international law, arbitrations should be jointly initiated by parties involved out of their own will.Fourth, the Philippines’ unilateral initiation of the arbitration is the continuation and development of its territorial expansion and infringes on China’s territorial sovereignty.

　　菲律宾南海仲裁案代表了当前国际关系中一种危险的倾向。个别国家企图把《公约》作为唯一标准，否定包括《联合国宪章》在内国际法所确认的领土主权神圣不可侵犯原则，掩盖自己非法侵占中国南沙群岛有关岛礁的事实。领土主权不可侵犯是国际交往的基本准则和国际法的根本原则，是国际关系稳定的基石。

　　The Philippines’ South China Sea arbitration case represents a dangerous tendency in current international relations. Some countries try to use UNCLOS as the only standard and deny the principle that territorial sovereignty is sacred and inviolable established under international law, including the UN Charter. They attempt to cover up the fact that they are illegally occupying China’s islands and reefs in the Nansha Islands. Inviolability of territorial sovereignty is the basic norm in international exchanges and a basic principle in international law. It is the bedrock for stable international relations.

　　菲律宾南海仲裁案是一场披着法律外衣的政治闹剧，既不可能改变“旧格局”，也不可能制造“新现实”。中方的不接受、不承认，不仅是法律上的，也是行动上的。无论仲裁案最终结果如何，中方都不会接受和承认裁决，更不会执行裁决，也决不同意任何国家以此裁决为基础与中方商谈南海问题。菲律宾妄想通过仲裁案否定中国在南海的领土主权和海洋权益，抹黑中国的国际形象，不会有任何结果。

　　The Philippines’ South China Sea arbitration is a political farce under a legal cloak. It can neither change the “old order” nor create a “new reality”. China does not accept nor recognize the arbitration, both in a legal sense and in action. Whatever the ultimate result of the arbitration case, China will not accept or recognize its ruling, let alone implement it. China will never allow any country to negotiate with China about the South China Sea issue based on that ruling. The Philippines dreams about denying China its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and tarnishing China’s image in the world through this arbitration case. Such attempt is doomed to fail.

（编辑：何莹莹）