论《宣言》的条约属性及对《公约》争端解决机制的排除

The Attribute of DOC and its Exclusion of Dispute Settlement Mechanism under UNCLOS

《南海各方行为宣言》究竟是政治文件还是法律协议,及其所确立的通过谈判解决争端的途径是否可以排除《海洋法公约》争端解决机制的适用,成为分歧极大的法律争议。菲律宾和仲裁庭均主张《宣言》仅仅是一份政治文件,不具有法律约束力;即便具有一定的法律效力,也不能排除《公约》争端解决机制的适用。中国主张《宣言》关于通过谈判途径解决争端的规定构成了具有法律约束力的国家间协议,且其所确立的通过谈判解决争端的途径具有唯一性和排他性,因此菲律宾不可以依据《公约》提供的争端解决机制就相关争端提起仲裁。本文认为,《宣言》在争端解决问题上构成了具有法律约束力的国家间条约;其是否可以排除《公约》争端解决机制本质上是个法律适用问题,从海洋法角度讲,根据《公约》第281条的规定,《宣言》无法直接排除《公约》争端解决机制,仅对《公约》争端解决机制的适用形成制约;从条约法角度讲,《宣言》与《公约》构成了《维也纳条约法公约》第三十条"关于同一事项先后所订条约之适用"问题,相关争端应适用《宣言》提出的谈判和协商途径,据此方可直接排除《公约》争端解决机制的适用。文章首先从中菲南海仲裁案提出两个核心法律争议,并梳理菲律宾、中国各自主张以及仲裁庭对此争议的结论。其次论证《宣言》的条约属性。第三,分别从海洋法和条约法两个视角分析《宣言》对《公约》争端解决机制的排除。

Whether DOC(Declaration on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea)is a political document or a legal agreement,and whether the provisions of dispute settlement through negotiations can be applied to exclude the dispute settlement mechanism under UNCLOS?Both are controversial legal issues.Both the Philippines and the arbitration courts hold that DOC is merely a political document and is not legally binding.Even if it has certain legal effect,the dispute settlement mechanism under UN-CLOS can not be excluded.China advocated DOC is a legally binding agreement between countries;the negotiation method to resolve the dispute is unique and exclusive,thus the Philippines can not appeal for arbitration according to the dispute settlement mechanism under UNCLOS.This article holds that DOC is a legally binding treaty;whether it can exclude the dispute settlement mechanism under UNCLOS is a legal issue.From the perspective of the law of the sea,according to the article 281 of UN-CLOS,the dispute settlement mechanism can not be excluded,only be confined.From the perspective of treaty law,DOC can directly exclude the dispute settlement mechanism.The article firstly raises two legal disputes from the South China Sea arbitration case.Secondly,the treaty attribute of DOC is demonstrated.Third,from the two perspectives of the law of the sea and treaty law,the article analyzes how the dispute settlement mechanism under UNCLOS be excluded.