論國際法上島嶼制度在解決南海爭端中之適用

Abstract

南海海域近年來成為亞洲地區關注的焦點，特別是此海域中的島嶼爭議涉及了海洋資源分配、國家主權認定以及海洋劃分等問題，而這不僅是各個聲索國之間的衝突，同時也交錯著國外勢力的介入，使得南海的緊張情勢日益緊繃。 本研究主要關懷國際公約中「島嶼制度」與「主權歸屬」的原則和判例，並以其作為基礎對於南海島嶼的適用與實踐進行討論。首先回顧島嶼制度第121條中具有爭議性的內容，其次回顧島嶼主權歸屬的經典判例，再者對南海諸島的爭議進行分析。 本研究發現島嶼制度第1項對於自然環境的要件的爭議性較小，主要是第2項要件對於人類居住與經濟生活的規範較為模糊且缺乏共識，並直接地影響著第3項島嶼是否擁有領海或經濟海域的要件；島嶼主權認定的核心在於「關鍵時刻」的「有效管理」，在關鍵時刻以後的作為並不影響主權的歸屬，所以關鍵日期與有效管理是必須同時進行判準的原則；在南海諸島的爭議中，島嶼制度的適用都有其模糊地帶，特別是第3項「人類居住」與「經濟生活」的定義，這部分需要國際法來進行規範與釐清。島嶼主權方面，本文對於各國的主張都有提出相對應的立論依據，但目前五國六方對此並無共識，而台灣更是被排擠在外，因此我國必須持續維護太平島的主權並經由長期的溝通與協調來尋求解決方案。 最後，本研究認為或許可以透過島嶼制度第1、3項要件的規範，來對第2項要件島嶼所擁有領海或經濟海域進行限縮，將經濟問題退回到主權爭議。 一方面可以減少劃分海域範圍的衝突，另一方面也可以使各爭端國思考妥協與合作的可能性。South China Sea has become the focus of Asian areas recently; especially the island disputes in this area involved marine resources, national sovereignty, and the division of sea and so on. It is not only conflicts among claimants but also interventions from international forces. This research is mainly about the principles and judicial cases of “The Regime of Islands” and “full sovereignty” in international law. The controversial content of UNCLOS number 121 was reviewed, followed by classical cases related to the sovereignty of islands in the South China Sea, and finally the analysis of numerous disputes. The research finding indicates the first criterion of natural environment in“The Regime of Islands”less controversial, and the third criterion about human habitation and economy norms was unclear and lack of consensus. The second criterion of the ownership of territorial or economical sea was directly influenced by the third. The central recognition of “The Regime of Islands” lies in effective control within the critical date. What has been done after the critical date does not matter. So the critical date and effective control should act as the guidelines simultaneously. The disputes in South China Sea contain some grey areas, especially in the definition of “human habitation” and “economy life”. This part requires international law to clarify and regulate. As for the sovereignty of islands in the South China Sea, countries involved do not reach any consensus currently. Yet Taiwan has been excluded, so our country needs to stand out for the sovereignty of Taiping Island through long-term negotiation so that solution can be reached. Finally, this research proposed to through the regulation of first and third criteria, it is possible to limit the ownership of territorial or economical sea of the second criterion, drawing from economy back to sovereignty issue. Hopefully this can lessen the conflicts of territorial sea, and make the claimants reconsider the possibility of compromise and cooperation.