美国对《联合国海洋法公约》的态度

The Attitude of the United States to UNCLOS

美国至今没有加入《联合国海洋法公约》,但这并不意味着美国对《公约》持一贯反对态度。事实上,美国对《公约》有着复杂的态度和立场。从历史上看,美国对《公约》的态度经历了两次重大改变,分别和"国际经济新秩序"、《执行协定》在国际法上的提出有关。从1994年至今,美国国内对是否应加入《公约》存在激烈争论,支持者和反对者各执一词,无法达成一致。从国际法的角度看,加入《公约》对美国的多种国家利益有不同影响。美国决策的实质是在单边行动和国际合作这两种模式间做出抉择,这取决于美国希望如何平衡其海洋行为中的"控制"要素和"权威"要素。

The non-Party status of the United States in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS) does not mean that the U.S.adopts a persistent opposing attitude to UNCLOS.In fact,the standpoint of the U.S.on UNCLOS is a matter of complexity.Historically speaking,two remarkable turns of attitude took place with the New International Economic Order and the 1994 Implementation Agreement being put forward in international law.From 1994 to date,heated debate continues to exist revolving whether the U.S.should join UNCLOS where supporters and objectors adhere to their own arguments and no agreement can be reached.Viewed from the perspective of international law,joining UNCLOS will have different influences to various national interests of the United States.The essence of the decision-making of the U.S.is to identify its policy mode between 'unilateral action' and 'international cooperation',which depends on how it hopes to balance the control element and die authority element in its maritime behavior.