晚清政府的海权意识与对南海诸岛的主权维护

晚清之际,东西方列强不时非法勘测、侵扰中国南海诸岛及其附近海域,严重威胁中国海权。在与列强斗争的过程中,晚清政府的地方政府官员运用国际法中的有关规定与列强交涉,最终收复了被日本占领的东沙岛主权,并向国际社会宣示对西沙群岛的所有权。与此同时,晚清政府根据国际公法和各国的海上实践,提出了"水界"区、渔业区等海域主张,以捍卫中国南海权益。晚清政府维护东沙、西沙群岛的一切措施,都符合近代国际法的"自护之权"以及"条约"确定的领土界限和领土所有权等准则。晚清政府维护海权之举,不仅具有重要的历史意义,而且在目前中国的外交斗争中也具有重要的现实意义。

The Awareness of the Sea Power of the Government of the Late Qing Dynasty and the Safeguards for the South China Sea Islands Sovereignty

At the time of the late Qing Dynasty,the Eastern-western powers investigated illegally and harassed the South China Sea islands and the surrounding waters from time to time,so as to threat seriously to China's sea power.In the struggle with the powers,the local officials of the late Qing Dynasty government made use of the relevant provisions of international law to negotiate with the powers.Eventually recovered the Japanese occupation of Pratas sovereignty and declared the ownership of the Xisha Islands to the international community.At the same time,in order to safeguard interests of the South China Sea,the late Qing government put forward the concepts of "the limit of their territorial water",sea fishing zone,and so on in accordance with international law and national maritime practice.All the measures of the Late Qing government in maintaining the Pratas and the Xisha Islands were in line with modern international law relating to "the right of self-protection","treaty" established territorial boundaries and territorial ownership,and other criteria.It not only has important historical significance,but also has important practical significance in the present diplomatic struggles in China.