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

中国驻利比里亚大使 张越
H.E. Mr. Zhang Yue, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Liberia

据报道，应菲律宾单方面请求而建立的仲裁庭可能于近日宣布所谓“裁决”结果。中国已经宣布不接受、不参与仲裁的严正立场，将坚持通过双边谈判解决中菲在南海的有关争议。我愿意向利比里亚读者介绍南海问题的历史经纬、现实状况，并在此转发《中华人民共和国外交部关于坚持通过双边谈判解决中国和菲律宾在南海有关争议的声明》，帮助大家了解事实真相和中方立场。
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.

菲律宾南海仲裁案的根本起因是由于某些国家非法侵占中国南沙群岛部分岛礁。南沙群岛自古以来就是中国领土。历代中国政府通过行政设制、军事巡航、生产经营、海难救助等方式持续对南沙群岛及相关海域进行管辖。第二次世界大战期间，日本曾一度侵占南沙群岛。二战结束后，根据国际法和《开罗宣言》、《波茨坦公告》等国际文件，中国作为战胜国收复了南沙群岛。战后数十年，国际社会普遍承认南沙群岛属于中国，没有任何国家对此提出异议。
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.

根据有关国际条约，菲领土西部边界为东经118度线。中国南海岛礁完全在东经118度线以西。然而，从20世纪70年代初起，菲律宾突破上述规定，推行领土扩张主义，陆续侵占中国南沙群岛的8个岛礁。菲律宾的非法领土主张违背历史事实和国际条约，侵犯了中国的主权和领土完整。不止于此，菲律宾违背中菲间已经达成通过双边谈判解决南海争端的共识，无视中国已经将海洋划界问题排除适用《联合国海洋法公约》规定的强制争端解决程序，于2013年1月单方面提起南海仲裁案，企图通过仲裁案否定中国在南海的领土主权和海洋权益，掩盖自己非法侵占中国南沙群岛部分岛礁的事实。
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.

有些国家指责中国在南沙部分岛礁上进行的和平建设是“军事化”，对南海航行自由和飞越自由构成“威胁”。中国确实在自己的领土上进行了一些开发活动。事实上，本区域一些国家早就在非法侵占的中国领土上进行了类似的开发活动。中国建造的设施致力于保障民用需求，并为国际社会提供公共产品，不会影响南海的航行和飞越自由，也不会破坏南海生态，遑论所谓南海“军事化”问题。
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”.

至于有些国家宣称中国控制南海战略航道，这种指责在事实面前根本站不住脚。中国一向尊重和维护所有国家根据国际法在南海享有的航行和飞越自由。正是由于中国和其他沿岸国的努力，南海航道一直畅通无阻，商贸繁忙，沿岸国家也从中受益良多。然而，某些域外国家，打着维护航行自由的旗号，派出自己的战舰和飞机抵近甚至进入中国南海水域和空域，目的却是为了炫耀武力。为实现自己的政治和军事利益，他们企图挑起地区国家间的紧张局势，介入南海事务。他们的行为才是对南海航行自由的真正威胁。中国坚决反对这种损害中国主权安全、炒作南海“军事化”、危害地区和平稳定的行为。
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.

事实上，南海当前的紧张局势完全是人为引起的。某些国家怀着不可告人的目的，希望把南海这片清水搅浑。这种做法不但威胁地区和平稳定，也对世界和平稳定造成威胁。某些国家滥用《联合国海洋法公约》，将其作为解决争议的唯一标准，否定根据《联合国宪章》和国际法一般原则确立的领土主权原则。他们这么做的目的纯粹是为了掩饰非法侵占中国南沙岛礁的事实。
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.

谎言总是站不住脚的，真相自会大白于天下。中国外交部于2016年6月8日发布《中华人民共和国外交部关于坚持通过双边谈判解决中国和菲律宾在南海有关争议的声明》，重申通过双边谈判解决在南海的有关争议是中菲共识和承诺，希望继续坚持通过谈判解决与菲律宾在南海的有关争议。声明全文如下（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:…

当前，已有越来越多的非洲国家看清了南海仲裁案的实质，纷纷向中国表达支持。这充分说明国际社会特别是发展中国家，决心站在真正的受害者和公平正义一边，坚持维护和平与国际法治。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.