美國與中國積極介入南海爭端之戰略動因思考

Strategy-based Thinking for Increased Involvement of US and China in South China Sea Disputes

南海爭端是當代最複雜的國際安全議題之一，歷史上曾兩度在聲索國間引發戰爭，且 2009 年後再度升溫。觀其成因，除受到海洋法劃界問題的影響外，美國與中國近年對爭端參與強度的顯著提高，亦是導致局勢紛擾的主要原因。為理解美中在南海爭端中態度與作為趨於積極強勢的原因，本文由兩國的宏觀戰略規劃著眼，指出南海是美中實踐對外戰略的關鍵環節。就美國而言，透過積極干涉南海爭端，可協助其順利推進亞太戰略轉向，強化本國在東亞地區的權力基礎，並制約中國勢力擴張。對中國來說，南海地區則是其海洋戰略發展前景所繫，藉由加強控制南海，對經濟利益與軍事安全方面皆深具助益。在這一情形下，南海爭端遂成為美國與中國戰略規劃的交會處，並導致了近年美中在當地相互競逐的局勢。

South China Sea disputes are one of the most complex contemporary international security issues. Historically, they triggered two wars among the claimants. The situation calmed down during the post-Cold War period yet escalated again after 2009. A look into the major causes for the clamorous situation revealed the delineation issue associated with the Law of the Sea and also the significantly increased involvement of the United States and China over the past few years in the disputes. Contemporary South China Sea disputes have implicitly become the wrestle arena between the powers: the US and China. In order to know why the United States and China turned proactive and aggressive over South China Sea disputes in terms of their attitude and the action they take, this article focuses on the macro-strategy planning of these two countries and points out the fact that the South China Sea is pivotal to the implementation of the United States and China of their external strategies; it is of deep strategic value for both parties. As far as the US is concerned, by proactively interfering with South China Sea disputes, it helps successfully re-orient its regional strategy, strengthen the US power base in East Asia, and prevent China from expanding further. For China, on the other hand, the South China Sea concerns the prospects of its maritime strategy; by reinforcing control over the sea, it is of far-reaching benefits as far as the economic interest and military security are concerned. Under these circumstances, South China Sea disputes are where the US and China meet in strategic planning and the cause of the mutually competitive situation in the region between the United States and China over the past few years.