杨洁篪就南海仲裁案仲裁庭作出所谓裁决接受中央媒体采访
Yang Jiechi Gives Interview to State Media on the So-called Award by the Arbitral Tribunal for the South China Sea Arbitration
2016年7月14日，国务委员杨洁篪就南海仲裁案仲裁庭作出所谓裁决接受中央媒体采访，全面阐述中方有关立场主张。全文如下：
On 14 July, State Councilor Yang Jiechi gave an interview to state media on the so-called award of the Arbitral Tribunal for the South China Sea arbitration during which he elaborated on China’s position. The full text of the interview is as follows:
记者：7月12日，菲律宾南海仲裁案仲裁庭作出所谓裁决，企图否定中国在南海的领土主权和海洋权益。中方随后发表了《关于应菲律宾共和国请求建立的南海仲裁案仲裁庭所作裁决的声明》、《关于在南海的领土主权和海洋权益的声明》和《中国坚持通过谈判解决中国与菲律宾在南海的有关争议》白皮书，表明了我国对仲裁庭所谓裁决不接受、不承认的严正立场，并重申了中国在南海的领土主权和海洋权益。您如何看待这个所谓的南海仲裁庭做出的裁决？
Reporter: On 12 July, the Arbitral Tribunal for the South China Sea arbitration issued its so-called award, which attempts to deny China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. In response, China issued a Statement on the Award of the Arbitral Tribunal in the South China Sea Arbitration Established at the Request of the Republic of the Philippines, Statement on China’s Territorial Sovereignty and Maritime Rights and Interests in the South China Sea and a White Paper entitled China Adheres to the Position of Settling Through Negotiation the Relevant Disputes Between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, stating China’s solemn position of non-acceptance and non-recognition of the award and reaffirming China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. How do you view the award by the so-called Arbitral Tribunal for the South China Sea arbitration?
杨洁篪：日前，南海仲裁案仲裁庭作出所谓裁决。这一裁决完全是非法的、无效的。中国政府已经发表了有关声明和白皮书，表明了我们坚决反对仲裁和不接受、不承认裁决的严正立场。中国社会各界和广大民众坚决拥护和支持中央政府的立场，纷纷在报刊、电视以及短信、微信、微博等网络平台发表文章和观点，表达了反对非法仲裁、维护主权权益的鲜明态度。
Yang Jiechi: The Arbitral Tribunal for the South China Sea arbitration has issued its so-called award. This award is illegal and invalid in every sense. The Chinese government has released relevant statements and a White Paper stating its solemn position of firmly opposing the arbitration and not accepting or recognizing the award. This position of the central government has the strong support and endorsement from people of various social sectors in China. They have expressed their unequivocal attitude of opposing the illegal arbitration and safeguarding sovereign rights and interests by contributing articles and articulating views through the press, TV and SMS as well as online platforms like WeChat and Weibo.
南海仲裁案由始至终就是一场披着法律外衣的政治闹剧，其背后有着不可告人的图谋。某些域外国家妄图借仲裁案否定中国的南海主权权益，甚至拉帮结派，要在国际社会孤立、抹黑中国，牵制中国的和平发展，但他们是竹篮打水一场空，害人不成反害己。必须指出，仲裁案违反国际法治精神，危及地区和平稳定，损害国际社会利益，对此世界上大多数国家都看得很清楚。目前有70多个国家和国际、地区组织发表声明，对中国的立场表示理解和支持，这足以说明国际社会对这场政治闹剧的态度，也足以说明某些国家围堵、抹黑中国的阴谋失败了。
The South China Sea arbitration has been a political farce all along, staged under the cover of law and driven by a hidden agenda. Certain countries outside the region have attempted to deny China’s sovereign rights and interests in the South China Sea through the arbitration. They have even brought other countries into the scheme to isolate and discredit China in the international community with a view to holding back China’s peaceful development. But such attempts are futile, to say the least, and in so doing, they are only lifting a stone to drop it on their own feet. I must point out that the arbitration runs counter to the spirit of international rule of law, puts regional peace and stability in jeopardy, and undermines the interests of the international community. Most countries in the world see this clearly. Over 70 countries and international and regional organizations have made statements showing their understanding of and support for China’s position. This speaks volumes about the attitude of the international community toward the political farce, proving the futility of certain countries’ scheme to hem in and smear China.
主权问题是中国的底线。中国虽大，但老祖宗留下来的基业一寸都不能丢。中国在南海的领土主权和海洋权益是在两千多年的历史实践中形成的，有着充分的历史和法理依据，绝不是满纸荒唐言的所谓裁决所能否定的。仲裁裁决抹杀不了历史事实，否定不了中国在南海的权益主张，更动摇不了我们维护领土主权和海洋权益的决心和意志。中国不接受、不承认裁决的立场不会改变，同时，中国将继续坚定走和平发展道路，坚持通过谈判协商解决在南海的有关争议，坚持发展与周边国家的睦邻友好和互利合作，共同维护南海地区的和平稳定。
Sovereignty is a bottom line for China. Big as China is, we cannot afford to give away a single inch of territory that our ancestors have left to us. China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea have been formed over the course of over two thousand years. They are fully backed by historical and legal evidence. Under no circumstances can they ever be negated by a so-called award that is full of nonsense. The award can neither change historical facts nor deny China’s claims of rights and interests in the South China Sea. Still less can it waver our resolve and determination to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. China’s position of not accepting or recognizing the award will not change. At the same time, China will stay committed to following a path of peaceful development, to resolving the disputes in the South China Sea through negotiation and consultation, to developing friendly relations and win-win cooperation with its neighbors, and to working with others to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.
记者：为什么说菲律宾提起仲裁违反国际法？
Reporter: Why do you believe that the Philippines’ initiation of arbitration is against international law?
杨洁篪：国际法治的基本要求是依法行事。中菲南海争议的核心是领土问题和海域划界问题。对于领土问题，《联合国海洋法公约》根本管不着。对于海域划界问题，中国早在2006年就根据《公约》规定作出声明，排除适用《公约》争端解决机制。菲律宾阿基诺三世政府单方面提起仲裁的行为，违反中菲多年来达成的通过谈判解决南海有关争议的双边协议，违反中国与包括菲律宾在内的东盟国家于2002年签署的《南海各方行为宣言》，违反国际法，违反《公约》。这一仲裁自始至终都是非法的，不能同国际法划等号。
Yang Jiechi: A basic requirement of international rule of law is that actions must be taken in strict accordance with the law. The crux of disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea are issues concerning territory and maritime delimitation. Territorial issues are not governed by UNCLOS. On maritime delimitation, China made a declaration on optional exceptions in 2006 pursuant with UNCLOS stipulations, excluding it from the dispute settlement mechanisms of UNCLOS. By unilaterally initiating arbitration, the Philippine government under Aquino III has gone against its long-standing bilateral agreement with China that disputes in the South China Sea shall be settled through negotiation, violated the DOC signed in 2002 by China and ASEAN countries, the Philippines included, and breached international law and UNCLOS. Hence, this arbitration has been illegal since the very beginning. It cannot be seen as an application of international law.
记者：为什么说仲裁庭丧失了公正性和合法性？为什么说仲裁裁决是非法无效的？
Reporter: Why do you think that the Arbitral Tribunal lacks legitimacy and impartiality? Why is the award illegal and invalid?
杨洁篪：从仲裁庭的组成来看，大部分成员是由右翼色彩浓厚、一心推动突破战后体制的日本籍时任国际海洋法法庭庭长柳井俊二指定的。此外，个别仲裁员和专家证人还在审理过程中推翻自身以往长期坚持观点，为菲方说项。任何明眼人都能看出其中的猫腻。
Yang Jiechi: If you look at the composition of the Arbitral Tribunal, most of the arbitrators were appointed by Shunji Yanai, the then President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and a right-wing Japanese intent on ridding Japan of post-war arrangements. In the proceedings, some arbitrators and experts even backtracked from their long-held views to make the case for the Philippines. Anyone with good sense can see the tricks.
仲裁庭不顾中方表达的严正立场，任意扩大管辖权，完全无视南海的历史和现实，曲解《公约》有关规定，从一开始就把《公约》这本经念歪了，其越权、扩权作出的非法裁决自然非法无效。仲裁庭代表不了国际法，更代表不了国际公平和正义。
In disregard of China’s staunch position, the Arbitral Tribunal willfully went beyond its authority, turned a blind eye to the history and reality of the South China Sea and misinterpreted relevant stipulations of UNCLOS. It has deviated from UNCLOS from the very beginning and overstepped and expanded its authority to render this award. Naturally, such an award can only be illegal and invalid. The Tribunal can in no way represent international law, still less equity and justice in the world.
记者：裁决结果对中国的南海断续线有何影响？
Reporter: How will the award affect China’s dotted line in the South China Sea?
杨洁篪：历史不容篡改，法律不容滥用。中国在南海的主权、权利及相关主张是在中国人民千百年来的历史实践中逐渐形成和不断发展起来的，并且一直为历届中国政府所坚持。早在1948年，中国政府就在公开发行的官方地图上标绘了南海断续线，确认了中国对南海诸岛及其附近海域的主权和相关海洋权益，这是不容置疑的历史事实。中国是《联合国海洋法公约》的缔约国，中国当然享有《公约》规定的权利。中国在南海权益主张远早于《公约》签署的时代，它不可能被《公约》所否定，更不可能被一纸谬误百出的所谓裁决所否定。中国在南海的主权和海洋权益受到国际法和《公约》的双重保护。
Yang Jiechi: History brooks no distortion and law no abuse. China’s sovereignty, rights and relevant claims in the South China Sea are gradually formed and developed by the practice of the Chinese people throughout millennia and have been upheld by successive Chinese governments. As early as in 1948, the Chinese government marked the dotted line in the South China Sea on its officially published map, which affirmed China’s sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and maritime rights and interests in their adjacent waters. This is a historical fact beyond any doubt. As a state party to UNCLOS, China is fully entitled to its rights under UNCLOS. China’s claims of rights and interests in the South China Sea long predate the signing of UNCLOS. They shall by no means be denied by UNCLOS, still less by an unwarranted and flawed award. China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are protected by both international law and UNCLOS.
