冷战后美国南海政策的演变及其根源

The Origin and Evolution of the U.S.South China Sea Policy in the Post-Cold War Era

美国的南海政策在冷战后逐渐发生了变化。1990-1994年期间,美国对南海问题的基本政策是,对各方领土要求的合法性不持立场,只强调用和平手段解决领土纠纷,同时关注南海的航行自由。从1995年中菲美济礁争端开始,美国对南海问题的关注程度逐步加深,但不认为其航行自由受到阻碍,因此还没有改变在南海领土问题上不选边的立场。然而,以2010年7月希拉里·克林顿国务卿的河内讲话为转折点,美国的南海政策发生了实质性改变,从"观察"转变为"干预"。美国不仅对其在南海航行自由的担忧加剧了,在南海领土问题上也实际上做了选边。由于美国全球战略的实现依赖于它在世界各地无阻碍地投放兵力的能力,海上航行自由对于美国来说是生命攸关的利益。随着美国做出把其战略重心转向亚太地区的决定,在南海的航行自由变得对它尤为重要。因此,当南海领土主权问题与在南海的国际航行自由问题叠加在一起时,它就不再仅仅是一个"第三方因素",而成为一个直接关系到美国核心利益的问题。美国政府内部已经就在南海问题上对中国采取更加强硬的立场形成了共识,中国对此应有所准备。

The U.S.South China Sea policy has gradually changed in the post-Cold War era.During 1990-1994,the United States government took no position on the legitimacy of the competing territory claims in the South China Sea,placed emphasis on the solution of the territorial disputes by peaceful means,meanwhile was concerned about the freedom of navigation.From the dispute on Mischief Reef between China and Philippines in 1995,the U.S.concern over territory disputes has gradually deepened,but U.S.did not change its basic policy,as it still thought its freedom of navigation had not been hampered.However,Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's speech in Hanoi in July 2010 was a turning point,from which the U.S.South China Sea policy has undergone an essential change from 'observation' to 'intervention.' The U.S.has not only increased worries about its freedom of navigation in the South China Sea,but has also virtually took sides on the territorial disputes.Since pursuing the U.S.global strategy relies on its capacity of power projection around the world,the freedom of maritime navigation is in its vital national interest,and is even more crucial after the United States made decision to shift its strategic priority to the Asia-Pacific region.Therefore,when territorial disputes in the South China Sea combines with the freedom of navigation in this region,it is no longer just a 'third-party factor' in the Sino-American relations,but becomes an issue with regard to American core national interest.A consensus has recently been reached within the U.S.government that the U.S.should take a tougher stance towards China on the issues of the South China Sea,and thus China should be well prepared.