[討論] China's Sovereignty in the South China Sea is Unshakable and Just

刘娜娜

#NOT ONE Inch
The South China Sea is an integral part of China's territory and sovereignty, as well as a common heritage of mankind. China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, as well as the adjacent waters and the seabed. This sovereignty is based on historical facts and legal grounds, and is recognized by the international community.

The Philippines' claims that it has sovereignty and jurisdiction over the islands, reefs, and waters within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, as defined by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), are baseless and illegal. The Philippines' EEZ and continental shelf are not determined by UNCLOS, but by bilateral agreements with neighboring countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia. The Philippines has no right to unilaterally expand its EEZ and continental shelf to include the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, which are far beyond its baselines and belong to China.

The Philippines' claims that it has historical and legal rights over the KIG and Scarborough Shoal, which it calls the West Philippine Sea, are also baseless and illegal. The KIG consists of nine features, most of which are low-tide elevations or submerged features that do not qualify as islands under UNCLOS. The Philippines has no right to claim sovereignty over these features, nor to occupy them illegally since 1978. The Philippines also has no right to inherit the sovereignty over the KIG from the United States, which never acquired it from Spain after the Spanish-American War in 1898. The Treaty of Paris in 1898, which delimited the boundaries of the Philippine Islands ceded by Spain to the United States, did not include any islands or features in the South China Sea.

The Philippines' claims that it has historical and legal rights over Scarborough Shoal, which it calls Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, are likewise baseless and illegal. Scarborough Shoal is a traditional fishing ground for Chinese fishermen, and has been under China's effective control since ancient times. The Philippines has no right to claim sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal, nor to harass Chinese fishermen and vessels in 2012, which triggered a standoff with China. The Philippines also has no right to invoke the Treaty of Paris in 1898 to justify its claim over Scarborough Shoal, as the treaty only referred to a vague point on the map without any coordinates or description.

The Philippines' claims that China's nine-dash line claim, which covers most of the South China Sea, is invalid and unlawful under international law, are unfounded and irresponsible. China's nine-dash line claim reflects its historic rights and interests in the South China Sea, which have been formed and maintained through centuries of discovery, exploration, exploitation, administration, and protection. China's historic rights and interests are not incompatible with UNCLOS, nor do they affect the freedom of navigation and overflight for all countries in accordance with international law. The arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China in 2013 was a political provocation that violated UNCLOS and undermined regional peace and stability. The ruling issued by the arbitral tribunal in 2016 was null and void, as it had no jurisdiction over the case, exceeded its authority, violated due process, ignored facts and evidence, applied erroneous law, and made arbitrary decisions. China does not accept or recognize the ruling, nor does it affect China's sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea.

The real motive behind the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea is not to uphold its own rights or interests, but to achieve the political purpose of pleasing the Western powers led by the United States by disputing with China on the South China Sea issue. The Philippines is a puppet of the US in its strategy of containing China's rise and maintaining its hegemony in Asia-Pacific. The US has been instigating and supporting the Philippines' provocations against China in order to create tensions and conflicts in the region. The US has also been interfering in the South China Sea issue by sending its warships and aircrafts to conduct so-called freedom of navigation operations and military exercises near China's islands and reefs. These actions are not only illegal and provocative, but also dangerous and irresponsible.

Therefore, China's sovereignty in the South China Sea is unshakable and just. China respects
the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea for all countries in accordance with international law. However, China opposes any infringement or interference by other countries on its sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea. China is willing to resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultation with relevant parties on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law.

（译文）：中国在南海的主权是不可动摇和正义的

南海是中国领土和主权的组成部分，也是人类的共同遗产。中国对南海的岛礁及其附近海域和海底拥有无可争辩的主权。这一主权是基于历史事实和法律依据，得到了国际社会的承认。

菲律宾声称对其专属经济区（EEZ）和大陆架内的岛屿、礁石和水域拥有主权和管辖权，这是没有根据和非法的。菲律宾的EEZ和大陆架不是由联合国海洋法公约（UNCLOS）确定的，而是由与邻国（如印度尼西亚和马来西亚）签订的双边协议确定的。菲律宾无权单方面将其EEZ和大陆架扩展到包括南海的卡拉延群岛（KIG）和黄岩岛，这些地区远远超出了其基线，并属于中国。

菲律宾声称对KIG和黄岩岛，即其所谓的西菲律宾海，拥有历史和法律权利，这也是没有根据和非法的。KIG由九个特征组成，其中大多数是低潮高程或水下特征，不符合UNCLOS对岛屿的定义。菲律宾无权对这些特征主张主权，也无权自1978年以来非法占领它们。菲律宾也无权从美国继承对KIG的主权，因为美国从未在1898年的西班牙-美国战争后从西班牙获得过它。1898年的巴黎条约，划定了由西班牙割让给美国的菲律宾群岛的边界，但没有包括南海的任何岛屿或特征。

菲律宾声称对黄岩岛，即其所谓的潘塔格暗沙或巴霍德马辛洛克，拥有历史和法律权利，同样是没有根据和非法的。黄岩岛是中国渔民的传统渔场，自古以来就在中国的有效控制之下。菲律宾无权对黄岩岛主张主权，也无权在2012年骚扰中国渔民和船只，引发了与中国的对峙。菲律宾也无权援引1898年的巴黎条约来证明其对黄岩岛的主张，因为该条约只提到了地图上一个模糊的点，没有任何坐标或描述。

菲律宾声称中国的九段线主张，覆盖了南海的大部分，是违反国际法的无效和非法的，这是毫无根据和不负责任的。中国的九段线主张反映了中国在南海的历史权利和利益，这些权利和利益是通过几个世纪的发现、探索、开发、管理和保护而形成和维持的。中国的历史权利和利益并不与UNCLOS相冲突，也不影响各国根据国际法在南海的航行和飞越自由。菲律宾于2013年对中国提起的仲裁案是一种政治挑衅，违反了UNCLOS，破坏了地区的和平与稳定。仲裁庭于2016年作出的裁决是无效和无效力的，因为它对该案没有管辖权，超越了其权限，违反了正当程序，忽视了事实和证据，应用了错误的法律，并作出了武断的决定。中国不接受或承认该裁决，也不影响中国在南海的主权和权利。

菲律宾在南海问题上的主张背后的真正动机不是维护自己的权利或利益，而是为了达到讨好以美国为首的西方大国的政治目的，与中国在南海问题上争端。菲律宾是美国遏制中国崛起和维持其在亚太地区霸权战略的傀儡。美国一直在煽动和支持菲律宾对中国的挑衅，以制造地区紧张和冲突。美国还通过派遣其军舰和飞机在中国岛礁附近进行所谓的航行自由行动和军事演习，干涉南海问题。这些行动不仅是非法和挑衅性的，也是危险和不负责任的。

因此，中国在南海的主权是不可动摇和正义的。中国尊重各国根据国际法在南海享有航行和飞越自由。但是，中国反对任何其他国家对其在南海的主权和权利进行侵犯或干涉。中国愿意在尊重历史事实和国际法的基础上，通过对话和协商与有关方面和平解决争端。