The South China Sea Arbitration Case Filed by the Philippines against China:Arguments concerning Low Tide Elevations,Rocks,and Islands

Abstract

宋燕辉，台湾髙雄中山大学海洋科学院海洋事务研究所教授，台湾台北“中央研究院”欧美所研究员。【中文摘要】2014年3月30日，菲律宾向仲裁庭提交了诉状，阐述了仲裁庭管辖权及菲律宾主张的实质问题。诉状中，菲律宾声称美济礁、仁爱礁、渚碧礁、南薰礁、西门礁和东门礁属于低潮高地，黄岩岛、赤瓜礁、华阳礁、永暑礁属于“岩礁” 因此无法享有200海里专属经济区和大陆架。本文探讨了菲律宾的主张是否在事实和法律上均确有根据，并认为仲裁庭很难做出有利于菲律宾的裁决。 【Abstract】On March 30, 2014, the Philippines submitted its Memorial to the Arbitral Tribunal, which presents the country’s case on the jurisdiction of the Tribunal and the merits of its claims. In the Memorial, the Philippines argues that Mischief Reef, Second Thomas Shoal, Subi Reef, Gaven Reef, McKennan Reef, Hughes Reef are low-tide elevations, and that Scarborough Shoal, Johnson Reef, Cuarteron Reef, and Fiery Cross Reef are “rocks”, therefore these land features cannot generate entitlement to a 200-nautical-mile EEZ or continental shelf. This paper discusses if the claims made by the Philippines are well founded in fact and law. It concludes that it would be difficult for the Tribunal to rule in favor of the Philippines’ claims