中国不应加入《鹿特丹规则》的若干理由

Several Reasons against China's Accession to the Rotterdam Rules

中国正面临对《鹿特丹规则》的态度选择。本文总结了不支持中国立即签署或参加《鹿特丹规则》的九个理由,即:司法管辖权和法律适用范围受到不对等限制,船、港、货三方利益受到不同程度的损害,公约本身的统一性、先进性不具充分说服力,中国不会被动适用公约,等等。这九个理由涉及国家主权、行业核心利益和法律自身逻辑等方面,与中国重大利益息息相关。在充分评估可能的不利影响、寻找到恰当的解决方案前,中国急于签署或参加《鹿特丹规则》可能是草率甚至有害的。

China is faced with the task of making clear her attitude towards the Rotterdam Rules.This article lists several reasons against China's festinate signing or ratification of the Rotterdam Rules,such as:the unequal restriction of the jurisdiction and the scope of the application of law;the injury to the benefits of carriers,cargo owners and port operators;the unpersuasive merits of‘unification’and‘modernization’of the new Convention;China would not be forced to apply the Convention,etc.These reasons involve state sovereignty,core interests of the industry and legal logic per se,which are closely connected with China's important interests.Before the side effects of the Convention are fully evaluated and the proper solutions are found,China's signing or accession to the Rotterdam Rules will be hasty or even harmful.