The Philippines' arbitration relates to the dispute over the sovereignty of islands and reefs in the South China Sea, and to maritime delimitation. But these territorial issues are not regulated by — and therefore beyond the scope of — the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). And in 2006, China declared it would exclude "disputes concerning maritime delimitation" from compulsoryarbitration, under Article 298 of UNCLOS. Second, the Philippines' unilateral initiation of compulsory arbitration did not meet UNCLOS preconditions for such initiation. The "no arbitration without the existence of a dispute" principle requires that before resorting to compulsory arbitration, there must have existed a real dispute between the parties. However, China has not yet presented specific claims with individual islands: Instead, it has always treated them as part of its Zhongsha Islands or Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.

　　菲律宾提起的仲裁诉求，涉及与中国一些岛礁争议，以及海洋划界问题。这些与领土主权相关的问题不属于《联合国海洋法公约》调整范围。2006年，中国依《联合国海洋法公约》第298条提交了"有关海域划界的纠纷"的排除性声明。其次，菲律宾单方面提起的强制仲裁不符合《联合国海洋法公约》规定的前置条件。根据"无争议不仲裁"的原则，在提起强制仲裁之前，当事方之间就仲裁事项必须确实存在争议。然而，菲律宾在仲裁提出关于单个岛礁的法律地位问题，而中国从未就单个岛礁主张海洋权益：而是一直将诸岛视为南海中沙群岛和南沙群岛的组成部分。

　　重点表达学起来

　　岛礁：islands and reefs

　　海洋划界：maritime delimitation

　　《联合国海洋法公约》：the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

　　不符合《联合国海洋法公约》规定的前置条件：did not meet UNCLOS preconditions for such initiation

　　无争议不仲裁：no arbitration without the existence of a dispute

　　中沙群岛和南沙群岛：Zhongsha Islands or Nansha Islands

　　UNCLOS also stipulates that the Philippines must exchange views related to the arbitration over the dispute with China. But the Philippines has never consulted with China on the subject matters of the arbitration. And it was not telling the truth when it reported an "impasse" with China in "the bilateral exchanges" and "the great many subsequent exchanges." In fact, it was China that tried in vain to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Philippines.

　　《联合国海洋法公约》还规定，在提起仲裁之前，相关方必须充分交换意见。但菲律宾从来没有就仲裁事项与中国协商过。菲方还错误地宣称，与中国的"双边磋商"以及"后续的多次沟通"都陷入了"僵滞"。但事实上，是中方屡屡尝试与菲方进行有意义的沟通，但得不到回应。

　　重点表达学起来

　　充分交换意见：exchange views

　　仲裁事项：the subject matters of the arbitration

　　Therefore, the Philippines’ unilateral initiation of arbitration has fallen short of meeting the UNCLOS conditions. Besides, by unilaterally initiating the arbitration, the Philippines has violated an earlier agreement it reached with China: Both countries previously stated their commitment to bilateralnegotiations and consultations as the means to settle disputes.

　　因此，菲律宾单方面提起仲裁，不满足《联合国海洋法公约》的前置条件。此外，通过单方面发提仲裁，菲律宾也违反了早先与中国达成的共识：两国此前曾承诺，以双边谈判和协商为手段解决争议。

　　重点表达学起来

　　菲律宾单方面提起仲裁：the Philippines' unilateral initiation of arbitration

　　不满足《联合国海洋法公约》的前置条件：fall short of meeting the UNCLOS conditions

　　解决争议：settle /resolve disputes

　　南海问题白皮书相关重点英文表达学起来~~

　　南海诸岛是中国固有领土

　　Nanhai Zhudao are China's Inherent Territory

　　中国始终坚定维护在南海的领土主权和海洋权益。

　　China has always been resolute in upholding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

　　中国南海诸岛包括东沙群岛、西沙群岛、中沙群岛和南沙群岛。