美国单方面确定本国扩展大陆架外部界限所涉国际法问题研究

International Legal Issues Surrounding the Unilateral Establishment of the Outer Limits of its Extended Continental Shelf by the United States

2023年12月19日,美国发布关于本国扩展大陆架外部界限的声明和执行摘要,单方面确定了其200海里外大陆架的外部界限。美国并非《联合国海洋法公约》的缔约方,它有权依据《公约》第76条第1款所反映的习惯国际法主张扩展大陆架权利,但其空间范围须受第76条第2-7款所反映的习惯国际法的限制。美国无权向大陆架界限委员会提交扩展大陆架划界案,其单方面确定的扩展大陆架外部界限不具有《公约》第76条意义上的确定性和拘束力,它所产生的法律效果将取决于第三国的反应。美国应加入《公约》,并严格按照《公约》规定的相关规则、标准和程序来确定本国扩展大陆架的外部界限。

On 19 December 2023,the United States unilaterally established the outer limits of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles by issuing an Announcement and the Executive Summary on the Outer Limits of the Extended Continental Shelf of the United States of America.As a non-party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS),the United States is entitled to claim an extended continental shelf under customary international law as reflected in paragraph 1,article 76 of the UNCLOS,but its spatial extent should be subject to the customary rules as reflected in paragraphs 2-7,article 76 of the UNCLOS.The United States is not in a position to make a submission of the extended continental shelf to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.Its unilateral determination of the outer limits is not final and binding within the meaning of Paragraph 8,Article 76 of the UNCLOS,and its legal effect depends on the response of third States.The United States should rectify the UNCLOS,and shall establish the outer limits of its extended continental shelf in accordance with the applicable rules,criteria and procedures as provided for in the Convention.