"Joint Development": An Ad Hoc Solution to the South China Sea Dispute

吴世存博士，教授，南海研究院（海口）院长。【中文摘要】南海争端的新发展是目前全球范围内涉及诸多国家和地区的最为复杂的海洋争端。相关国家对资源的争夺使得这一局势更加严峻。他们罔顾其他国家的反对，开发南海资源，特别是石油和天然气的开采，而这也增加了南海争端 的复杂性和严峻性。为了和平、双赢地解决南海争端，中国政府早在上世纪90年 代就提出“搁置争议，共同开发”。2005年3月于马尼拉签署的共同勘探南海争 端海域石油和天然气资源的三方协议方使这一提议初见成效。即便如此，在推进 和实现“共同开发”的道路上依然面临着种种阻碍。故而，为和平解决南海争端， 还应在其他方面做出努力，包括在渔业开发和保护、海洋研究以及航运等领域加强合作。 【Abstract】The latest developments in the South China Sea (SCS) dispute has transformed it as the most intricate maritime dispute in the world presently, involving many States and regions. The situation becomes more severe due to the contention for resources among the involved countries. The resource development, especially oil and gas exploitation in the SCS area, is being carried out by the involved States unilaterally, ignoring protest from other countries, which could add to the complexity and severity of the SCS dispute. With an aim to resolve the SCS dispute in a peaceful and win-win way, the Chinese government has proposed to “shelve disputes and seek joint development” in early 1990s. This proposal has achieved initial achievement with the tripartite agreement signed in Manila in March 2005 to jointly explore oil and gas resource in the disputed SCS. Even though, some obstacles still exist in the promotion and process of joint development. Hence, other efforts should be made in order to help resolve the SCS dispute peacefully, including enhancing cooperation in such fields as fishery development and conservation, marine research and maritime transportation

Energy Security of China and Oil and Gas Development in Disputed Area of the South China Sea

吴士存，中国南海研究院院长。 任怀锋，中国南海研究院助理研究员。【中文摘要】随着中国经济的持续发展，能源安全问题日益突出。南海油气资源 丰富，对南海周边的国家和地区具有重要意义。由于南海存在主权争议区，所以油气开发活动不但敏感，容易引起冲突，而且风险大、成本高，投资合作难度大。 所以，必须寻求有效的合作开发模式，不但要避免冲突，还要有利于营造合作氛围。 争议区开发模式必须由各方就合作机制与冲突处理机制达成协议，并且要提供必 要的政治保证和资金支持。两岸展开油气合作不但具有可行性，而且可以共同维 护中华民族在南海的实际利益。 【Abstract】With the sustainable economic development in China, energy security has become an increasingly prominent issue. The South China Sea is endowed with rich oil and gas resources, which is of great significance to its neighboring countries and regions. There exists a disputed area in the South China Sea, so the development of oil and gas is sensitive and tends to cause conflicts, with high risks and costs as well as difficulty in investment and cooperation. Therefore, an effective cooperative development model must be found to avoid conflicts and bring benefits to cooperation. Development model in the disputed area must be agreed on by all sides in terms of cooperative mechanism and conflict handling mechanism, and it should provide necessary political guarantee and financial support. It is not only feasible for all sides around the South China Sea to conduct oil and gas development, but also benign to jointly safeguard the actual interests of Chinese nation in the South China Sea