南海争端与《联合国海洋法公约》

The South China Sea Disputes and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

1982年的《联合国海洋法公约》对中国维护国家权益和南海的和平稳定具有重要意义。海中岛礁的主权归属问题不是《公约》的主题事项,退出《公约》或其他相关国际条约无助于南海问题的解决,也无助于中国在改革开放的进程中争取其更广泛的利益。在《公约》和国际规则体系框架内寻求解决南海问题既有空间,也是中国应当采取的正确的政策选择。

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982(UNCLOS)is of crucial significance for China in safeguarding its national interests and maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea area.The sovereignty over islands and rocks is not a subject matter of the UNCLOS.Withdrawal from the UNCLOS or other relevant international instruments would not be conducive to resolving the South China Sea disputes.Nor would it be helpful to the advancement of China's broader interests during the period of reform and opening.It is possible,and also in the interests of China,to find a solution to the South China Sea disputes within the existing framework of international rules and norms.