中華民國總統府

　　華爾街日報5月17日刊出馬英九總統所撰有關臺灣在西太平洋的權益專文，全文內容如下：

　　太平島是島，應享有廣大的專屬經濟區，惟日本的沖之鳥礁無法類此適用。

　　臺灣目前陷入兩項有關西太平洋島嶼法律地位的爭端。各方主張實則取決於《聯合國海洋法公約》對於島嶼的定義，其結論將影響全球對於海洋事務的處理。

　　在荷蘭海牙的國際常設仲裁法庭，菲律賓與中國大陸的仲裁案正在進行中。菲律賓在其主張中，試圖將臺灣所屬的南海太平島（英文又名Itu Aba）降格為岩礁。

　　根據《聯合國海洋法公約》第121條規定，島嶼必須能維持人類居住及其自身之經濟生活，才能主張大陸礁層及200海里專屬經濟區。任何不符合上述兩項準則的岩礁，只能主張12海里的領海。

　　在常設仲裁法庭去年11月底之聽證會上，菲律賓聲稱太平島沒有淡水、無法農耕，倘若不輸送補給品，人類無法居住，因此太平島只是一個岩礁。這個主張明顯錯誤。
　　
　　太平島面積0.51平方公里，是南沙群島中最大的自然生成地物，不僅擁有豐沛的淡水，還有可耕地，土壤天然肥沃，生產十多種蔬菜水果，並畜養雞、羊、犬。島上有樹齡逾百歲，高度10至20公尺的茂密熱帶喬木。歷史遺跡證明，人類在島上居住及經濟活動已將近一世紀。

　　另一方面，日本也聲稱，沖之鳥是島不是礁，因此享有大陸礁層及專屬經濟區權利。日本依此非法主張，於4月26日扣留一艘在沖之鳥外海海域作業的臺灣漁船，船長被脫衣檢查，人員被扣留，在繳交6百萬元日幣的「保證金」後，才獲釋放。

　　日本擬在該海域確立國家主權之意圖明顯。但沖之鳥礁僅由兩塊岩礁組成，漲潮時僅露出水面16公分，總面積僅達9平方公尺，約兩張特大雙人床的大小。沖之鳥礁上無淡水或可耕地，無法維持人類居住或經濟生活。現有一百多名日本國會議員入籍為沖之鳥「居民」，惟事實上，這些岩礁未必能擠上100人。

　　根據《聯合國海洋法公約》，沖之鳥陸礁僅能主張12海浬之領海，以外區域均須視為國際海域，非日本專屬經濟海域。日本於此豎立鋼筋建築物、填海造陸，惟據《聯合國海洋法公約》，這些人工島與人工設施均不能據以主張主權或海洋權益。

　　日本公務船扣押臺灣漁船係違反《聯合國海洋法公約》第87條，有關各國可自由於公海捕魚之規定。此違法行為已重創日本在國際社會作為負責任夥伴的形象，並斲傷臺、日兩國人民，在近來強震襲擊時，所相互展現之深厚情誼。

　　就日本在沖之鳥礁鄰近海域違法擴權、濫權，我國政府已向日本提出正式抗議，而臺灣立法院也正式予以譴責。

　　日本已於1996年7月成為《聯合國海洋法公約》締約國，不應違反公約規定。本人因此於5月1日派遣巡護船隊，到該海域維護我國漁民權利，積極捍衛所有國家於公海自由捕魚。
　　
　　仲裁法庭即將做出仲裁，本人也呼籲法庭不應否定太平島的島嶼地位，以及太平島擁有大陸礁層與專屬經濟海域之必要權利。同時，國際社會不應對日本在沖之鳥礁海域違法擴權主張視而不見，任何國家都不應該違反《聯合國海洋法公約》。

　　馬先生是中華民國(臺灣)總統。

By Ma Ying-jeou

Taiping is an island that deserves a large exclusive economic zone. The same can’t be said of Japan’s Okinotori reef.

Right now in the Western Pacific, Taiwan is mired in two disputes over the legal status of an island. These claims hinge on the very definition of an island under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and their outcome stands to influence the way maritime business is conducted the world over.

At The Hague, the Philippines is in the middle of an arbitration case against mainland China. As part of its argument, Manila is attempting to downgrade to the status of a mere rock Taiwan’s Taiping Island (also known as Itu Aba), in the South China Sea.

According to Article 121 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or Unclos, an island must be able to sustain human habitation and economic life in order to claim a continental shelf and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles. Any rock that doesn’t meet these two criteria can only claim territorial waters of 12 nautical miles.

During a hearing before the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the end of November, the Philippines claimed that Taiping Island has no fresh water or arable land, and human inhabitation is impossible without supplies imported from outside. It is therefore, according to the Philippines, only a rock. That claim is patently false.

Taiping Island, the largest naturally formed land feature in the Nansha (Spratly) Islands, covers an area of 0.51 square kilometers. It has ample natural fresh water. It has arable land, with natural and fertile soil that produces more than 10 species of fruits and vegetables. It supports chickens, goats and dogs. The island has dense stands of native tropical trees that are more than 100 years old and range from 10 to 20 meters tall. There are historical traces verifying almost a century of human habitation and economic activity on the island.

Meanwhile, Japan is asserting that its Okinotori reef are not rocks but an island, and therefore entitled to a continental shelf and EEZ. Based on that illegal claim, on April 26 Japan detained a Taiwan-registered fishing boat operating outside Okinotori’s territorial waters. The ship’s captain was strip searched, and the ship’s detainees released only after a ¥6 million “security deposit” was paid.

Japan’s intent to establish state practice in that maritime area is clear. But Okinotori reef consists of two rocks that are barely 16 centimeters above water at high tide, with a total area of only 9 square meters, or about the size of two king-size beds. Okinotori reef, with no fresh water or arable land, cannot sustain human habitation or economic life. More than 100 Japanese members of Parliament are currently registered as “residents” of Okinotori, but in reality it’s not clear that 100 people could even gather on these reefs.

According to Unclos, the Okinotori land feature can only claim 12 nautical miles of territorial waters. Outside of that, the surrounding area must be considered international waters, not Japan’s EEZ. Japan has erected steel structures and reclaimed land from the surrounding sea, but according to Unclos these artificial islands and man-made installations don’t validate sovereignty claims or grant rights to territorial waters.

Japanese government vessels that detain Taiwan fishing boats are in violation of Article 87 of Unclos, which provides for freedom of fishing for all countries on the high seas. Such illegal actions inflict considerable damage to Japan’s image as a responsible partner in the global community. It also undermines the deep friendship between the Taiwanese and Japanese people that was most recently on display after strong earthquakes struck both countries.

My government has already lodged a formal protest with Japan regarding its illegal and excessive claims and abuse of power in the maritime area surrounding Okinotori reef. Taiwan’s legislature also issued a formal condemnation.

As a state party to Unclos since July 1996, Japan should not violate the law’s provisions. On May 1, I therefore dispatched coast-guard vessels to that area to protect our fishermen’s rights and actively safeguard freedom of fishing on the high seas for all nations.

I also appeal to the tribunal regarding Taiping Island: Its decision, to be delivered soon, should not negate Taiping’s true status as a bona fide island with the requisite rights to a continental shelf and EEZ. The international community shouldn’t turn a blind eye to Japan’s illegal and excessive maritime claims associated with Okinotori reef. No country should be allowed to violate Unclos.

Mr. Ma is the president of the Republic of China (Taiwan).