中国与周边国家海洋争端的层级及中国海洋维权的若干思考

On the Levels of Maritime Sovereignty Disputes between China and Neighbouring Countries and China's Maritime Right Maintenance

海洋主权争端是当今世界的热点问题,主要分为岛礁的主权归属、大陆架的划分和海域划分三个层级,不同层级的争端适用的法律条款不尽相同。东海争端和南海争端情况各异,在法律条款适用问题上需具体情况具体分析。东海争端主要适用大陆架自然延伸原则和公平原则,南海问题则主要适用《联合国海洋法公约》第15所条规定的历史性所有权优先原则,而非单纯援引专属经济区和大陆架制度的规定。中国只有正确认识国际法在领土争端中的作用,援引恰当适用的法律条款,才能更好地维护国家的海洋权益。

Maritime territorial disputes are hot topics in today's world,which can be divided into three different levels:sovereignty of islands and reefs,delimitation of continental shelf and exclusive economic zone. The applications of UNCLOS in different levels are quite different. In different situations such as disputes in East China Sea and in South China Sea,issues of application of law items should be discussed specifically. The principle of natural extension of continental shelf and the principle of fairness can apply to the disputes over the East China Sea between China and Japan,whereas the situation in the waters of the U-shaped line in South China Sea South should apply to article 15 in UNCLOS about historical ownership.The latter issue cannot only cite rules on specified economic zone and continental shelf. In order to safeguard the maritime sovereignty rights better,China should take appropriate assessment about the role of international law in territorial disputes and cites appropriate law articles.