岛礁之辨的分歧及其消解路径

Differentiation of Islands and Rocks and Its Dismantling Path

岛礁之辨是国际海洋法中一个复杂的命题。近年来,学界围绕岩礁的定义、岩礁与岛屿的关系、维持人类居住与维持本身经济生活的具体意涵以及两者的关系问题展开了激烈的争辩,至今仍未达成共识。实践中,各国出于自身利益最大化的考虑,对于岛礁的界定也未形成统一标准,国际司法或仲裁机构则倾向于通过考虑岛礁在海洋划界中的效力问题,以回避对岛礁之辨作出判断。"菲律宾南海仲裁案"是首个对该问题进行明确界定的案例,但仲裁庭的裁决存在诸多问题,并非对岛礁之辨的权威解释。修改与完善《公约》的岛屿制度是解决问题的根本;争端当事国亦可通过探寻岛礁在海洋划界中的效力来化解纠纷;对于大陆国家的洋中群岛的基线划定问题,则应进一步梳理相关理论和实践,促进规则向确定性发展。

The differentiation of islands and rocks is a complex issue in the field of the law of the sea. In recent years,there have been fierce debates in academi c circles regarding the definition of islands and rocks,the relationship between islands and rocks,the specific implications of sustaining human habitation and sustaining economic life of their own,and the relationship between the two,but no consensus has been reached so far. In practice,in order to maximize their own interests,unified standards for the identification of islands and rocks have not been formed among countries. International judicial or arbitration institutions tend to consider the effects of islands and rocks in maritime delimitation to avoid this intractable issue. The tribunal＇s award in the ‘South China Sea Arbitration＇initiated by the Philippines interpreted this issue comprehensively,but there are many problems with the tribunal＇s decision. It is not the authoritative interpretation of the islands and rocks. The revision and refinement of the regime of islands under UNCLOS is the fundamental method to solve this problem; the parties to the dispute can also avoid this argument by exploring the effects of the islands and rocks in maritime delimitation; for the continental countries which have mid-ocean archipelagos baseline delimitation problems,it is advisable to further clarify the related theory and practice and to promote legal certainty.