VOA慢速英语：联合国法庭否决中国南海争端

UN Court Rules Against China in South China Sea Dispute

联合国法庭否决中国南海争端

The U.N. has dismissed China’s claims of "historic title" in the South China Sea. It is a major decision that comes after years of conflict among China, the Philippines and other countries.

联合国不予理会中国对于中国南海历史性所有权的声明.这个决定随之而来的是中国和菲律宾以及其他国家之间的争议.

China says ancient maps show that it legally controls nearly all the South China Sea. But Philippine officials argue that China’s territorial claims and recent aggressive activities in the South China Sea violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The convention is an international treaty both China and the Philippines have signed.

中国表示古老的地图表明中国合法控制几乎全部的南海领域.但是,菲律宾官方争辩称中国的领域主张和最近在南海的积极活动侵犯了联合国海上公约.此公约是中国和菲律宾都签署过的国际公约.

On Tuesday, the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague said China has “no historic title” to the area. And, the court ruled that China had violated the Philippines’ rights by interfering with that country’s fishing and oil exploration in the area.

本周二,联合国海牙常设仲裁法院称:中国对于南海”没有历史性所有权”.并且,法院裁决表示中国通过干涉菲律宾在此海域的捕鱼和石油开采活动已经侵犯了菲律宾的权利.

In Manila, Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay called the ruling "a milestonedecision."

在马尼拉,菲律宾外交部长亚塞称此裁决为重要决定.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby called the ruling "an important contribution to the shared goal of a peaceful resolution to disputes in the South China Sea."

美国国务院发言人约翰柯比称此裁决为和平解决中国南海争端的共同目标的一项重要决定.

But Chinese President Xi Jinping rejected the ruling. He said it would not affect China’s control over the area or its interests there.

但是,中国主席习近平否决了此项裁决.习近平主席表示此项裁决不会影响中国对于南海的统治和利益.

Years of conflict

多年的争端

An estimated $5 trillion in global trade passes each year through the South China Sea. The large area is home to rich fishing grounds and may include a wealth of oil, gas and other natural resources.

在南海领域,每年有预计五亿美元的国际贸易量.这片海域水产富饶,并且有大量的石油,天然气和其他的自然资源.

Many nearby countries claim part of the South China Sea. They include Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam, as well as the Philippines. Taiwan also has a claim.

许多临近国家都主张自己对于中国南海的领域权.他们包括:文莱,马来西亚,越南和菲律宾.台湾也主张过.

But in recent years, China has seized and rebuilt territory in the area, despite other countries’ objections. One conflict is over China’s activities on natural reefs. It has built many into artificial islands that can support military bases.

但是,近些年,中国已经重新规划了海域,反对其他国家的主张.其中一项争端是针对中国礁石群.他们形成许多人工岛屿并且能够支撑军事基地.

The UN court ruled against these activities on Tuesday. It said China did not have exclusive economic rights to a disputed set of land and reefs called the Spratly Islands. And, the court said China’s construction on Mischief Reef caused permanent harm to the reef's ecosystem.

本周二,联合国法庭裁决否定了这些行为.此裁决表示中国没有南沙群岛的独立经济权.并且,法庭裁决中国的美济礁建筑对珊瑚礁的生态系统造成了永久的破坏.

Despite Tuesday's ruling, the UN has no way to enforce the decision. It cannot use military action or economic restrictions.

尽管周二的裁决,联合国并没有办法实施此项决定.它无法使用军事行为和进行经济制约.

But, the decision could make other Asia-Pacific countries bring cases against China. Those cases could increase diplomatic pressure on Beijing to reduce its presence in the South China Sea.

但是这项决定能够使其他亚太国家反对中国.这些问题将会在南海争端问题上增加压力.

The United States has challenged Beijing's increasing aggressiveness in the region. The U.S. military has held naval exercises in the area and deployed warships near the rebuilt reefs. The moves aim to assert the international freedom of navigation rules.

美国已经开始在此区域挑衅.美方军队在此海域展开海军演习并且在礁群附近巡航舰队.其目标是维护航海权利的自由.

I’m Mario Ritter.

马里奥报道.