南海岛状地物法律地位刍议

The Legal Status of Island-Like Features in the South China Sea

目前,越来越多的国家在南海海域进行岛礁建设,包括填海造陆工程、修建建筑物等。很多岛屿、岩礁甚至水面以下的地形经过人工建设后,成为了类似"岛屿"的岛状地物。由于《联合国海洋法公约》对相关问题的规定并不明确,这些岛状地物的法律地位也不甚明朗。而国际海洋法所规定的岛屿、岩礁和人工岛享有的权利又有天壤之别,并不能草率地将所有岛状地物等同视之。不同类型的岛状地物应区分对待,以其原始地貌作为考量的重要因素;同时,应对不同岛状地物的权利进行划分,构建更为有序的海上秩序。

Recently, many countries are involved in construction activities in the South China Sea, including land reclamation projects, building artificial constructions etc. It has caused a stressful situation in related area. As a result of island construction, many islands, rocks, and submarine features are transfornled to island - like features. Because of the ambiguity of the related provisions in UNCLOS , the legal status of island - like feature is vague, too. However, the maritime entitlement of islands, rocks and artificial islands vary greatly in territorial sea, continental shelf, EEZ under the international law of the sea framework, hence, it is improper to arbitrarily treat different types of island - like features in one way. Different types of island - like features should receive differentiate treatment, and the original geographic character of island - like features should be a crucial factor of determining its rights.