美國南海航行自由的國際法分析

An International Law Analysis of the Freedom of Navigation of the United States in the South China Sea

1979年美國為確保對全世界海洋之自由使用，以「航行自由」名義挑戰各海洋沿岸國家對海洋權利之主張。主要挑戰的是那些「過度海域主張」的國家。美國不只宣示確保公海自由的重要性外，更以實際的航行自由行動（FONOPs）在世界各國挑戰不符國際海洋法規範的國家，近期以來，特別在南海水域進行多次的行動。美國的航行自由行動在國際法上，有些確實符合《聯合國海洋法公約》沒有問題，但有些行動，特別是軍事船艦在執行領海無害通過權上，的確存在許多可以解釋的模糊空間。

In order to ensure the freedom of using world’s oceans, since 1979 the United States has been challenged the coastal states’ claim of maritime rights with the name of “Freedom of Navigation”. The main challenge were those countries that excessive maritime claims. United States not only declares to ensure the right to freedom of navigation on the high seas, but to carry out “freedom of navigation operations” (FONOPs) to challenge those countries claim the waters not in compliance with the international law of the sea. Recently, US executes the FONOPs in South China Sea Waters many times. In terms of international law, some of the US’s freedom of navigation operations were indeed in compliance with the UNCLOS, but others were indeed many ambiguities that can be explained by the law, such as warships performing the right of innocuous pass.