论国际条约的单方退出

On Unilateral Withdrawal from International Treaties

近年国际实践中单方退出条约事件频发,对国际条约构筑的多边体系造成一定冲击。条约退出权乃国家主权的延伸,允许缔约国单方行使条约退出权存在相应的理论、立法和实践基础,有利于增强国际条约的灵活性。对此权利行使进行限制的本质是要在国际条约的灵活性与稳定性之间寻求平衡。但国际法很难对此进行实质限制,只能在退约等待期、提前通知期、附退约理由、限制退约生效等程序机制上规范单方退出权的行使。在国内法层面,单方退出权的行使须受宪法上立法权和行政权分配的制约,当宪法缺乏明确规定时,可通过对退约个案是否违宪进行司法审查的方式来判断政府单方退约行为的合法性。我国以负责任的大国身份处理单方退约事件时,应从认识上对单方退约行为去污名化,在起草条约时考量退出条款对退约权行使的限制方案,在履约时基于退约行为的利弊评估决定单方退出权的行使与否,并在国内法层面细化条约的退出程序。

Unilateral withdrawal from international treaties is not rare in modern treaty practice and has an impact on the multilateral system based on treaties.The withdrawal right is an extension of state sovereignty.There are certain theoretical,legislative and practical bases for the right of contracting parties to denounce the treaty in some circumstances,which is conducive to enhancing the flexibility of international treaties.The essence of the restriction on the withdrawal right is to seek a balance between the flexibility and stability of international treaties.Instead of substantive restraints,withdrawal clauses choose to regulate the exercise of the right to exit by providing for the waiting time,the notice period,the full explanation and survival of rights.At the level of domestic law,treaty withdrawal right is also subject to constraints by executive and legislative competence under the constitutional law.If the constitution provides no textual guidance on the process of treaty withdrawal,the exercise of this right is usually reviewed by the courts.As a responsible great power,China must have a correct understanding of the reputational consequences of withdrawal,carefully design exit clauses,appropriately invoke these clauses to quit a treaty,and further elaborate the exit procedure in domestic law.