《对外关系法》:六点评论

China's Foreign Relations Law:Six Comments

《中华人民共和国对外关系法》(下文简称《对外关系法》)是中国乃至世界范围内的一部开创性法律,具有重大意义。规范对外关系的法律包括正式法和非正式法,而作为基础性法律的《对外关系法》为涉及对外关系的正式法与非正式法的制定与实施都提供了依据和指南。对外关系法实践具有特殊的法律逻辑,尽管《对外关系法》的调整对象是动态的,但不宜认为具有涉外因素的法律关系都属于《对外关系法》的调整对象。《对外关系法》根本上是推进国家治理体系与治理能力现代化、推进全面依法治国以及追求国际合作共赢之法。《对外关系法》有望在多个方面发挥切实的作用,不能以是否为私人创设权利作为衡量《对外关系法》作用的主要标准。《对外关系法》并未处理对外关系的所有重要问题,因而在完备性上有所欠缺,但其遵循“问题导向”的立法原则是合理的。《对外关系法》把中国作为社会主义国家所具有的制度优势具体化为体制优势。《对外关系法》对于国际法与国内法关系的规定总体上是合理的,但客观上增加了条约在国内实施的不确定性,有必要制定实施性法律。

The Law on Foreign Relations of the People's Republic of China(China's Foreign Relations Law)is a groundbreaking legislation for China herself and around the world.Law regulating foreign relations include formal law and informal law.China's Foreign Relations Law serves as a basic law,providing the justification and guideline for the making and application of formal and informal law on foreign relations.Legal practice in foreign relations differs with those in the purely domestic affairs.Thus,although the subject matters of China's Foreign Relations Law are open to change,it is not wise to include all matters with“foreign elements”within China's Foreign Relations Law.The fundamental aim and purpose of China's Foreign Relations Law is not to function for international competition and struggles,but to modernize Chinese system and capacity of national governance,enhance the running of the country by law in the comprehensive manner,and pursue international cooperation.The effectiveness of China's Foreign Relations Law should not be mainly measured by the legal remedies available to individuals and private entities,but the overall benefits it may bring about,including whether and to what extent it enhances the rule of law in foreign relations.China's Foreign Relations Law indeed is incomplete,not addressing several significant issues(for instance,the legal status of customary international law in the Chinese legal system).However,the“issue oriented”approach it adopts is sound,given that,on the one hand,how to legally address many foreign affairs are not conclusive in such a dramatically changing international order;on the other hand,a cautious approach is wise for a globally groundbreaking legislation.China's Foreign Relations Law develops socialist regime advantage into more operative mechanism advantage by providing the roles of the Communist Party of China and local governments in foreign affairs.That China's Foreign Relations Law addresses the relationship between international law and national law in a flexible way,generally speaking,is sensible,corresponding to the global trend in this respect.Nevertheless,such flexible approach gives rise to uncertainties of the application of treaties in China.Therefore,on the one hand,it is necessary to adopt some implementing laws;on the other hand,Chinese authorities should apply treaties in good faith.