日占南沙与英国的外交应对

Japanese Occupation of Nansha and Britain's Response

日本占领南沙群岛后,英日关系发生微妙变化,英国担心海峡殖民地利益及南海航线受到影响,对日展开交涉,明确表示反对单方面改变南海事态、日法南沙争执应通过国际仲裁的立场。然而日本不以为然,英国的交涉没有收到任何效果,这与其虚弱的远东军事地位以及欧洲战局的牵制有直接关系。值得注意的是,英国对南沙归属问题持"不介入"立场,并未因与法国同盟而偏向法国、支持其对南沙的"主权"声称。

Britain openly denounced Japan’s unilateral act in Nansha on the grounds that its Straits Settlements and the South China Sea route might be endangered. Japan paid no attention to Britain’s protest. Britain’s weak response might be ascribed to its poor military presence in the Far East. Noticeably,Britain did not fully support France,which claimed its sovereignty over Nansha.