论国家对海底电缆和海底管道的投资保障义务与中国因应

A Research on the State’s Obligation to Protect Investments in Submarine Cables and Pipelines

作为通讯和能源传输领域的基础设施,海底电缆和海底管道的重要性得到了国际社会的广泛承认。由于私人投资者控制着绝大部分海底电缆和管道,因此国际投资法对海底电缆和管道保障具有无法替代的现实作用,《联合国海洋法公约》等亦为投资保障的落实提供了部分国际法层面的依据。然而因海底电缆和管道自身的独特跨界属性,以及国际法和各国国内法就海底电缆和管道法律制度供给的短缺,使得海底电缆和管道能否获得国际投资协定(IIAs)的保障,以及东道国对海底电缆和管道肩负哪些具体保障义务,均存在较大的不确定性。中国应重视国际投资法与海底电缆和管道保障的其他法律规则之间的联动关系,并以此为基础在现有国际投资协定、国际法和各国国内法与规则中就海底电缆和管道作出针对性的法律制度设计,以实现对海底电缆和管道的有效保障。

Having been the critical infrastructure in the fields of communication and energy transmission,the significance of submarine cables and pipelines has been widely recognized by the international communi⁃ty.Given that a substantial portion of submarine cables and pipelines are controlled by private investors,in⁃ternational investment law plays an irreplaceable role in protecting them.International legal instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provide an international legal basis for ensu⁃ring protection for investments.However,due to the cross-border nature of submarine cables and pipelines,as well as the inadequacy of legal regimes of governing them in both international and domestic laws,there is considerable uncertainty regarding the applicability of international investment agreements and the imple⁃mentation of specific investment treatment.States should emphasize the interactive relationship between in⁃ternational investment law and other legal rules of governing submarine cables and pipelines.Based on this,targeted legal frameworks should be designed within existing international investment agreements,interna⁃tional law,and national laws and regulations to effectively protect submarine cables and pipelines.