论历史地图在领土主权与海洋划界争端中的证明价值

On the Probative Value of Historical Maps in the Dispute of Territorial Sovereignty and Maritime Delimitation

目前的国际裁判中还没有一套针对证据相关问题的具体规则,法庭在该问题上具有较大的自由裁量权。历史地图作为证据,在领土主权和海洋划界争端中具有不容忽视的证明作用。在国际司法和仲裁实践中,历史地图证据的证明价值受到诸多因素的影响,包括历史性、精确性、中立性、与边界协定的关系、能否清晰地表达国家意志以及是否构成承认或默认行为证据等。一般而言,法庭对地图证据的证明价值持审慎态度,认为其主要发挥着补强、辅助证明的作用,且证明力可能因案而异,需要结合待证事实、其他证据等因素进行综合判断。

In the current international adjudication,there is no set of specific rules for evidence-related issues and the court has greater discretion on this issue.As evidence,historical maps play a proving role that cannot be ignored in territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation disputes.In the practice of judicial decisions and arbitral awards,the probative value of historical map evidence is affected by many factors including historical feature,accuracy,neutrality,relationship with border agreements,whether the State will can be clearly expressed and whether it constitutes the evidence of recognition or acquiescence etc.Generally,the tribunals maintain a cautious attitude towards the probative value of map evidence and believe that map mainly plays the role of corroborating and extrinsic evidence.The weight of evidence may vary from case to case in different situations and international judicial institution needs to comprehensively judge by combining the facts to be proved and other evidentiary materials.