南海清水不容攪渾
The South China Sea Issue: Stop Stirring the Clean Water

中國駐利比里亞大使 張越
H.E. Mr. Zhang Yue, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Liberia

據報道，應菲律賓單方面請求而建立的仲裁庭可能于近日宣布所謂“裁決”結果。中國已經宣布不接受、不參與仲裁的嚴正立場，將堅持通過雙邊談判解決中菲在南海的有關爭議。我愿意向利比里亞讀者介紹南海問題的歷史經緯、現實狀況，并在此轉發(fā)《中華人民共和國外交部關于堅持通過雙邊談判解決中國和菲律賓在南海有關爭議的聲明》，幫助大家了解事實真相和中方立場。
It is reported that the so-called “award” will soon be issued by the South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal established at the unilateral request of the Philippines. China has declared its solemn position of non-acceptance of and non-participation in the arbitration, and will stay committed to settling the relevant disputes with the Philippines in the South China Sea through bilateral negotiation.To help people get to know the truth, I would like to share with Liberian readers the background information of the said arguments about the South China Sea Issue in terms of its history, current situation as well as the Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China on Settling Disputes Between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea Through Bilateral Negotiation.

菲律賓南海仲裁案的根本起因是由于某些國家非法侵占中國南沙群島部分島礁。南沙群島自古以來就是中國領土。歷代中國政府通過行政設制、軍事巡航、生產經營、海難救助等方式持續(xù)對南沙群島及相關海域進行管轄。第二次世界大戰(zhàn)期間，日本曾一度侵占南沙群島。二戰(zhàn)結束后，根據國際法和《開羅宣言》、《波茨坦公告》等國際文件，中國作為戰(zhàn)勝國收復了南沙群島。戰(zhàn)后數十年，國際社會普遍承認南沙群島屬于中國，沒有任何國家對此提出異議。
As for the Philippines’ South China Sea arbitration, the root cause of the issue is the invasion and illegal occupation by certain countries of some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands. The Nansha islands have been China’s territory since ancient times. Successive Chinese governments have been exercising continuous jurisdiction over the islands and relevant waters by means of administrative management, military patrol, production and business operation and maritime rescue. Though during the World War II, Japan occupied Nansha Islands, China, as the victor of the war against Japanese aggression, finally recovered the islands according to international law and also international instruments such as the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation. In the decades that followed, many countries recognized that the Nansha Islands belong to China and not a single country raised objection.

根據有關國際條約，菲領土西部邊界為東經118度線。中國南海島礁完全在東經118度線以西。然而，從20世紀70年代初起，菲律賓突破上述規(guī)定，推行領土擴張主義，陸續(xù)侵占中國南沙群島的8個島礁。菲律賓的非法領土主張違背歷史事實和國際條約，侵犯了中國的主權和領土完整。不止于此，菲律賓違背中菲間已經達成通過雙邊談判解決南海爭端的共識，無視中國已經將海洋劃界問題排除適用《聯合國海洋法公約》規(guī)定的強制爭端解決程序，于2013年1月單方面提起南海仲裁案，企圖通過仲裁案否定中國在南海的領土主權和海洋權益，掩蓋自己非法侵占中國南沙群島部分島礁的事實。
The western border of the territory of the Philippines, according to several related treaties and documents, is at 118 degrees east longitude. China’s islands and reefs in the South China Sea are all located west of that line. However, since the early 1970s, the Philippines pursued their territorial expansion by invading and occupying 8 islands and reefs of the China’s Nansha. The Philippines’ illegal territorial claims constitute the violation of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in disregard of historical facts and international treaties. What is more, ignoring the fact that China and the Philippines have already reached understanding to resolve relevant disputes in South China Sea through bilateral negotiation, and China have excluded compulsory settlement proceedings in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Philippines unilaterally initiated the South China Sea arbitration in January 2013 in an attempt to deny China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and to cover up its invasion and illegal occupation of some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands.

有些國家指責中國在南沙部分島礁上進行的和平建設是“軍事化”，對南海航行自由和飛越自由構成“威脅”。中國確實在自己的領土上進行了一些開發(fā)活動。事實上，本區(qū)域一些國家早就在非法侵占的中國領土上進行了類似的開發(fā)活動。中國建造的設施致力于保障民用需求，并為國際社會提供公共產品，不會影響南海的航行和飛越自由，也不會破壞南海生態(tài)，遑論所謂南海“軍事化”問題。
It’s also noticed that some accused China of the peaceful construction on some islands and reefs of the Nansha as “militarization” and “threat” to the freedom of navigation and overflight. It’s true that China has been conducting development activities on its own territories. In fact, some countries have conducted their development activities on some islands and reefs illegally taken from China in this area at a much earlier time. What China has built focuses on making available civil services and providing international public goods, which will neither affect the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, nor damage the marine ecosystem, let alone resulting in so-called “militarization”.

至于有些國家宣稱中國控制南海戰(zhàn)略航道，這種指責在事實面前根本站不住腳。中國一向尊重和維護所有國家根據國際法在南海享有的航行和飛越自由。正是由于中國和其他沿岸國的努力，南海航道一直暢通無阻，商貿繁忙，沿岸國家也從中受益良多。然而，某些域外國家，打著維護航行自由的旗號，派出自己的戰(zhàn)艦和飛機抵近甚至進入中國南海水域和空域，目的卻是為了炫耀武力。為實現自己的政治和軍事利益，他們企圖挑起地區(qū)國家間的緊張局勢，介入南海事務。他們的行為才是對南海航行自由的真正威脅。中國堅決反對這種損害中國主權安全、炒作南海“軍事化”、危害地區(qū)和平穩(wěn)定的行為。
As for the argument that China has controlled the strategic sea lane in the South China Sea, it can’t hold water at all when confronted with the facts. China has been always honoring and maintaining the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea enjoyed by all countries in accordance with the international laws. Thanks to the concerted efforts by China and neighboring countries, the international shipping lane in the South China Sea stays unimpeded, flourishes with trade and benefits all countries concerned. However, some external countries, often in the disguise of upholding the freedom of navigation, send military vessels and airplanes approaching and even entering into the waters and air space close to the related islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands only to flex its military muscle. They try to stir up tensions among regional countries and interfere in the South China Sea Issue for its own political and military interests. Their actions are the true threats to the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. China stands firmly against such actions that posed threats to China’s sovereignty and security, abets the militarization of South China Sea and endangers regional peace and stability.

事實上，南海當前的緊張局勢完全是人為引起的。某些國家懷著不可告人的目的，希望把南海這片清水攪渾。這種做法不但威脅地區(qū)和平穩(wěn)定，也對世界和平穩(wěn)定造成威脅。某些國家濫用《聯合國海洋法公約》，將其作為解決爭議的唯一標準，否定根據《聯合國憲章》和國際法一般原則確立的領土主權原則。他們這么做的目的純粹是為了掩飾非法侵占中國南沙島礁的事實。
In fact, the current tensions in the South China Sea are totally imposed artificially with an aim of stirring the clean water. It stands for a dangerous tendency constituting a grave threat to the peace and stability of the region and the world as well. Some countries with ulterior motives outside the China South Sea want to muddy the waters in the South China Sea and to destabilize Asia. Some countries try to abuse the UNCLOS as the only standard and deny the principle of territorial sovereignty established under international law, including the UN Charter. They attempt to cover up the fact that they are illegally occupying China’s islands and reefs in the Nansha Islands.

謊言總是站不住腳的，真相自會大白于天下。中國外交部于2016年6月8日發(fā)布《中華人民共和國外交部關于堅持通過雙邊談判解決中國和菲律賓在南海有關爭議的聲明》，重申通過雙邊談判解決在南海的有關爭議是中菲共識和承諾，希望繼續(xù)堅持通過談判解決與菲律賓在南海的有關爭議。聲明全文如下（略）。
Lies have short legs and truth will always come to light. China’s position is clear and firm, as indicated by the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China issued on June 8,2016 regarding settling disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea through bilateral negotiation. The following is the full text:…

當前，已有越來越多的非洲國家看清了南海仲裁案的實質，紛紛向中國表達支持。這充分說明國際社會特別是發(fā)展中國家，決心站在真正的受害者和公平正義一邊，堅持維護和平與國際法治。真相不容歪曲，公道自在人心！
Currently, more and more African countries have seen the true colors of the arbitration and rendered their support to China. The international community, especially the developing countries, demonstrates their commitment to the international law, through standing on the side of the victim and justice. The truth cannot be distorted and justice naturally inhabits man’s heart.