国际法、国际关系与国家利益视角下的南海仲裁案

South China Sea Arbitration: The International Law,International Relations and National Interest Concerns from a Chinese Perspective

本文旨在从国际法和国际关系结合的角度分析菲律宾提起的南海仲裁案及其对中国在南海争端解决问题上的立场的影响,其立足点是如何最大程度地利用现有的国际法以实现国家利益的最大化。本文认为,对国家利益的认识要认识到其分类分层次的特点,同时实现国家利益的手段是多种多样的,应尽量通过以符合国际道义和通行国际规则手段来进行,而当代国际法在整体上已经与各国的国家利益大致吻合。对大国来说,国际法还是结盟、遏制和反遏制的工具,也是号召世界的道义力量。在这种认识之下,中国在南海争端解决上的立场,除运用实力外,还要注意国际法的运用,转变观念积极而有技巧性地参与国际争端解决过程。首先要加强相关问题的基础法律研究,在中国的'历史性权利'和'九段线'问题上发展出一套符合当代国际法原则的说辞,其次可以在不接受仲裁庭管辖权的前提下,仍然派出强大法律团队参与到管辖权问题的审理过程,充分将中国的法律理据向全世界阐述,并影响仲裁庭的组成和审理。

This paper aims to examine the concerns about the ongoing South China Sea arbitration case against China initiated by The Philippines in 2013 and potential similar cases in the future,from the combined perspectives of international law,international relations,and national interest. It argues that,even from a realist perspective,it is in China's best interest to participate in such peaceful settlement process of international disputes for two reasons. First,legalization of international affairs,especially international dispute resolution,has become an unstoppable trend in the international society. Second,as a great power,there is no reason that China should not use international law to maximize its national interest in South China Sea,especially when the merits of China's legal argument are stronger than other claimants in the disputes. It is suggested that China use its legal resources to develop a legal narrative about its historical rights in South China Sea and, especially, clarify its position on the Nine-Dashed Line. Further,China should actively participate in the hearings of the relevant arbitral tribunal about jurisdiction and admissibility, without necessarily accepting the tribunal's jurisdiction and its decision on the substantive issues. In doing so,China can make full use of its rights in the international legal process to,first,advocate its views and legal argument,and second,play a role in selecting the arbitrators.