2020年4月28日出版的《中国日报》（CHINA DAILY）在第9版刊发了自然资源部海洋发展战略研究所副研究员罗刚博士的英文评论文章《越南的举动削弱地区合作（Vietnam’s move weakens regional cooperation）》。
针对越南2020年3月30日向联合国递交照会声称其对西沙群岛、南沙群岛及其相关海域拥有主权、主权权利和管辖权一事，文章指出，越南的主张缺乏国际法基础，不仅不会达到越南所期待的政治效果，还会破坏南海地区信任与合作的气氛。文章以国际法为视角，从三个方面论证了越南的主张缺乏国际法基础。文章认为，对话与协商，才是解决南海问题唯一正确的选项，合作而非对抗，才是通向南海地区和平、安全与稳定的唯一道路。文章最后呼吁越南善意履行中越双边协议，通过谈判和友好协商解决南海问题，在推动“准则”磋商上发挥建设性作用。该文刊发后，受到一些国家驻华使馆等方面的高度关注。
原文链接：http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202004/28/WS5ea76ffaa310a8b2411521f4.html
附：英文全文及其参考中文译文
Vietnam’s move weakens regional cooperation
越南的举动削弱地区合作
Vietnam has sent diplomatic notes to the United Nations, asserting that it has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Xisha Qundao and Nansha Qundao, and their relevant maritime zones, in the South China Sea. Since last year, Vietnam has been stirring up trouble in the South China Sea, although its claim lacks legal basis. Vietnam will not only fail to achieve the expected political gains but also vitiate the atmosphere of trust and cooperation in the region through its unlawful unilateral actions.
越南在联合国递交照会，声称其对南海的西沙群岛、南沙群岛及相关海域拥有主权、主权权利和管辖权。去年以来，尽管缺乏国际法基础，越南一直在南海制造事端。越南不仅不会达到期待的政治效果，还会通过非法的单方行动破坏南海地区信任与合作的气氛。
First, China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nanhai Zhudao－including Xisha Qundao and Nansha Qundao－and its adjacent waters, as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its relevant maritime zone, which are underpinned by ample historical evidence and solid legal basis. China is the first country to have discovered, named, explored and exploited Nanhai Zhudao and its relevant waters, and the first to have continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them, thus well establishing sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and the relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea.
其一，中国对南海诸岛——包括西沙群岛和南沙群岛在内——及其附近海域拥有无可争辩的主权，对相关海域拥有主权权利和管辖权，具有充分的历史依据和坚实的法律基础。中国最早发现、命名和开发利用南海诸岛及相关海域，并最早持续、和平、有效地对南海诸岛及相关海域行使主权和管辖权，牢固确立了对南海诸岛的主权和在南海的相关权益。
In fact, Vietnam, on different occasions including bilateral talks, diplomatic notes and official publications, has recognized clearly and expressly China’s sovereignty over Xisha Qundao and Nansha Qundao. In particular, on Sept 14, 1958, the diplomatic note sent by then Vietnamese premier Pham Van Dong to Chinese premier Zhou Enlai provides clear historical and legal evidence to that effect. Regrettably, Vietnam has “blown hot and cold” by adopting an inconsistent position at the UN and taking unilateral actions in the South China Sea, which have not only undermined Vietnam’s credibility in the international community, but also violated the principle of estoppel, a firmly established principle of international law.
事实上，越南已在不同场合（包括双边会谈、外交照会和官方出版物）清楚地、明确地承认了中国对西沙群岛、南沙群岛的主权。值得一提的是，越南政府总理范文同于1958年9月14日发给中华人民共和国政务院总理周恩来的外交照会就是一个明确的历史和法理证据。令人遗憾的是，越南出尔反尔，在联合国表达了前后不一致的立场，在南海采取单方行动，不仅损害了越南在国际社会的信誉，还违反了国际法上牢固确立的原则，即“禁止反言”原则。
Second, two aspects of territorial sovereignty and maritime rights are indivisible and interdependent in the dispute. The territorial sovereignty is, by its very nature, at the heart of the dispute, while the associated maritime rights result from territorial sovereignty.
其二，领土主权和海洋权利这两个方面在争端中不可分割、相互关联。领土主权依其自身性质，处于争端的核心位置，而相关的海洋权利系基于领土主权而产生的。
This means that, if one leaves the dispute’s territorial aspect untouched or unresolved, no matter what legal or litigation techniques are used, it would be difficult to resolve the dispute on the aspect of its associated maritime rights, and relevant practices would be pointless. And any attempt to address the maritime rights aspect in isolation, without taking into account all aspects including territorial sovereignty which is at the core of the dispute, would leave the dispute unresolved and vitiate the overall atmosphere of maritime cooperation, even undermine the prospects for peace, security and stability in the region.
这就是说，如果不触及或不解决争端的领土主权方面，那么，无论使用怎样的法律技巧或诉讼技巧，都难以解决争端中相关的海洋权利方面，相关做法是毫无意义的。任何孤立处理海洋权利方面而不通盘地考虑争端所有方面（包括处于争端核心位置的领土主权）的企图，不仅会导致争端解决的失败，还会破坏海洋合作的整体气氛，甚至会损害南海地区和平、安全与稳定的前景。
China has indisputable sovereignty over Xisha Qundao and Nansha Qundao. Abundant historical evidence show that all the component features of Xisha Qundao and Nansha Qundao were, and still are, closely linked. Therefore, China’s Xisha Qundao and Nansha Qundao should be addressed as a whole, rather than separately, and the corresponding maritime rights stemming from there for China must be respected under international law.
中国对西沙群岛和南沙群岛拥有无可争辩的主权。大量的历史证据表明，西沙群岛和南沙群岛全部海洋地物之间，从过去到现在始终紧密相连。因此，中国西沙群岛和南沙群岛应作为一个整体来对待，而不应分开对待。中国在国际法的框架下基于西沙群岛和南沙群岛所产生的相应海洋权利，应当予以尊重。
Third, it is essential to enhance awareness about and respect for the limitation on the scope of application of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the existence of the matters not regulated by UNCLOS. Although UNCLOS has established a comprehensive legal framework of the oceans and seas, one cannot conclude that it governs all marine and maritime issues. From the legal perspective, China’s sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao, including Xisha Qundao and Nansha Qundao, is governed by the law of territory, rather than the law of the sea.
其三，有一点我们应当认识清楚并予以尊重，即1982年《联合国海洋法公约》（简称《公约》）的适用范围存在限制，《公约》也存在未予规定的事项。尽管《公约》已建立了一个综合性的海洋法律框架，但并不能由此得出，《公约》调整所有的海洋问题。从法律的角度上看，中国对南海诸岛（包括西沙群岛和南沙群岛在内）的主权是一个领土法问题，而不是海洋法问题。
Moreover, UNCLOS affirms, in its preamble, that the matters not regulated by UNCLOS continue to be governed by the rules and principles of general international law. Falling within the scope of the matters not regulated by UNCLOS, China’s historic rights in the South China Sea are well established and should be respected under international law.
另外，《公约》的序言明确规定，《公约》未予规定的事项应继续以一般国际法的规则和原则为准据。中国在南海的历史性权利，属于《公约》未予规定的事项，在国际法的框架下牢固确立，应予以尊重。
The South China Sea issue is highly complex and sensitive in nature, and its satisfactory resolution will test the political wisdom of the claimants. The issue not only touches on a multiplicity of different factors, ranging from geographical, historical, political, legal, economic and military factors to emotional factors, but also involves a number of claimant countries.
南海问题具有高度的复杂性、敏感性，能否令人满意地解决，考验着有关各方的政治智慧。南海问题涉及地理、历史、政治、法律、经济、军事、情感等诸多不同因素，事关多个当事国。
Furthermore, several countries outside the region, such as the United States, have conducted military activities under the guise of “freedom of navigation” there to foment trouble. In the South China Sea issue, relevant maritime claims overlap each other, territorial sovereignty and maritime rights are inextricably linked, and the claimants’ interests are closely entwined. In such a complicated situation, the South China Sea dispute can be genuinely resolved only through joint efforts in good faith and creative use of political wisdom by all the claimants.
此外，美国等一些域外国家在南海打着所谓“航行自由”的幌子，开展军事活动，挑动是非。在南海问题上，当事国的相关海洋主张彼此重叠，领土主权与海洋权利复杂交织，当事国的利益相互缠绕。在如此复杂的局势中，唯有所有当事国通过共同努力，创造性地运用政治智慧，才可能实现南海争端的真正解决。
Unilateral actions that undermine cooperation in the South China Sea will not only be unhelpful in resolving the South China Sea disputes but also nullify all the claimants’ cooperation efforts. It is time for Vietnam to realize that dialogue and consultation is the only ways to resolve the South China Sea issue, and that cooperation, rather than confrontation, is the only way forward to peace, security and stability in the region.
有损南海合作的单方举动，不仅无助于南海问题的解决，还会将所有当事国的合作努力毁于一旦。越南现在应清醒地认识到，对话与协商，才是解决南海问题唯一正确的选项，合作而非对抗，才是通向南海地区和平、安全与稳定的唯一道路。
Therefore, Vietnam should withdraw the claims running counter to historical facts and the international law, and stop taking unilateral actions to expand its unlawful claims in the South China Sea. And it would be politically wise for Vietnam to implement in good faith bilateral agreements, particularly the Sino-Vietnamese Agreement on Basic Principles Guiding Settlement of Sea-related Issue signed on Oct 11, 2011, to resolve the South China Sea issue through negotiation and friendly consultation, and to play a constructive role in promoting Code of Conduct consultation.
为此，越南应收回与历史事实和国际法不相符合的主张，停止在南海扩大非法主张的单方行动。善意履行中越双边协议，特别是2011年10月11日中越双方签署的《关于指导解决中越海上问题基本原则协议》，通过谈判和友好协商解决南海问题，在推动“准则”磋商上发挥建设性的作用，才是越南的政治明智之举。