論國際公約與臺海兩岸水下文化遺產管轄權之相關法律規定

A Discussion on the Jurisdiction of Underwater Cultural Heritage: International Conventions and Laws Between Taiwan and Mainland China

聯合國教育、科學及文化組織於2001年通過《水下文化遺產保護公約》，明定締約國於各海域區水下文化遺產保護與管理之權利義務，以補充《聯合國海洋法公約》之不足。縱教科文組織強調公約不涉及各國主權權利之改變、不規範水下文化遺產所有權屬，惟其條文仍有模糊性之解釋空間，加上各國國內法之不同規定，易生適用之疑義。水下文化遺產因所處海域位置或來源國所有權屬，其所涉管轄權較陸域文化遺產複雜，我國與中國大陸因地緣關係及歷史因素，易生沉船管轄權、所有權之爭議。本文將檢視上述二公約有關管轄權之條文、《水下文化遺產保護公約》談判過程中之爭論點，以及我國與中國大陸有關水下文化遺產管轄權相關規定和缺失，並提出位處不同水域之沉船可能衍生的問題及因應方法。我國與中國大陸對於水下文化遺產所有權與管轄權相關法律規定雖有不同，仍得藉由有關國際或區域公約進行談判，惟縱有國內法及國際公約之法律支撐，涉及兩岸關係之有關情事仍受政治因素影響甚鉅，此時僅得依當時國際政治局勢，以國際、國內法律為籌碼，尋求外交途徑解決。

The UNESCO(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage was adopted by the Plenary Session of the 31st General Conference in 2001. The Convention stipulates the rights and obligations of State parties in the protection and management of underwater cultural heritage in maritime zones, and supplements the deficiencies of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. UNESCO emphasizes that the Convention does not change the sovereign rights of State parties, nor does it regulate the ownership of underwater cultural heritage. It is easy to have disputes between countries because of the ambiguous provisions of the Convention, coupled with the different clauses within each Party’s domestic law. Because of the location and ownership rights of the country of origin, the jurisdiction of underwater cultural heritage is more complicated than cultural heritage on land. Due to the geographical and historical factors between Taiwan and mainland China, there is obvious potential for disputes over the jurisdiction and ownership of sunken shipwrecks. This article reviews the regulations and jurisdiction of two conventions, conflicts in the negotiation process of the 2001 Convention, as well as the related provisions and flaws between Taiwan and mainland China. Finally, it highlights possible resulting problems and responses to the finding of shipwrecks located in different waters. Although Taiwan and mainland China have different laws and regulations on the ownership and jurisdiction of underwater cultural heritage, they still have to negotiate through relevant international conventions or national laws. Even with the legal support of domestic law and international conventions, cross-strait relations are always hugely influenced by political factors. At this time, only through international realpolitik, with international and domestic legal provisions as a bargaining chip, can a diplomatic solution be sought.