论“南极条约地区”的地域范围

A Study on the Geographical Scope of the Antarctic Treaty Area

明确"南极条约地区"的地域范围是适用南极条约体系和中国进行南极立法面临的基础性问题。经考察,"南极洲""南纬60度以南的地区"和"南极条约地区"的三者表述应为同一概念。基于南极条约体系的各项条约和《南极条约》原始缔约国的相关立法实践,"南极条约地区"在不同时期所指代的具体范围,已从最初只包含南纬60度以南的大陆、岛屿、冰架和所谓"领海",扩展为当前包含南纬60度以南的整个地区。鉴此,中国可考虑将"南极条约地区"视为南纬60度以南、包括海域在内的整个地区,但应在立法和政策实践中保持一定的灵活性。

The geographical scope of the Antarctic Treaty Area is a fundamental issue facing the application of the Antarctic Treaty System and China’s Antarctic legislation.It firstly examines the terms of Antarctica,the area south of 60°South Latitude and the Antarctic Treaty Area,and points out that the three should be the same meaning.After discussing the specific scope of the Antarctic Treaty Area during the different periods based on the treaties of the Antarctic Treaty System and legislation practice of the original signatories to Antarctic Treaty,it concludes that Antarctic Treaty Area initially only include the continent,islands,ice shelves,and the so-called“territorial sea”below 60°South Latitude.However,it has expanded to include currently the entire region south of 60°South Latitude.In view of this,it is appropriate to propose that China may consider the Antarctic Treaty Area as the whole area south of 60°South Latitude,including sea area,but should maintain some flexibility in the related legislation and policies.