王鲁彤：中国追求维护和平

To maintain stability in South China Sea, outside interests must have the same goal.

保障中国南海的区域稳定，外部势力必须与区域内利益保持一致。

中国南海海域的岛礁自古以来就是中国领土。中国是首个成功探索中国南海各岛屿并为之命名的国家，同时也是首个对南海诸岛实施行政管辖及开发的国家。

Over the last 40 years, disputes over the South China Seahave been localised and controlled. Tensions in this region have only beenaggravated since 2009, and particularly post 2012.

在过去的40年中，有关中国南海问题的争端是有局限性的并可控的。南海地区局势紧张仅仅发生于2009年后，特别是在2012年之后。

The arbitration case initiated by the Philippines is a nextreme, isolated case. Analysing the South China Sea issue in the context ofSoutheast Asia's development serves a clear picture of the underlying catalystfor this dispute.

由菲律宾政府主导的仲裁事件是一起极端个案。基于东南亚发展情况下分析中国南海问题，能描绘出争端背后的催化剂的脉络。

From the Age of Discovery to the colonial period, and from World War II to the end of the Cold War, Southeast Asian countries have never experienced real peace. Before World War II, virtually the entire Southeast Asia region was colonised by Western powers. During WWII, the region was occupied by Japan.

从大航海时代到殖民时代，从二战到冷战结束，东南亚国家从未享受过真正的和平。二战之前，东南亚全境几乎全部被西方势力殖民。二战期间，该地区又为日本所侵占。

Most Southeast Asia countries did not gain independence until the end of World War II. In the 20 years following independence, however,those countries were heavily affected by the Cold War.

许多东南亚国家直到二战结束后都未获得独立，而在独立后的20多年里，这些国家又被笼罩在冷战的阴影当中。

With the end of the Cold War, Southeast Asia ushered in avaluable period of stability and prosperity. The relationship between China,Southeast Asia and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) then entereda 'Golden 20-Year Period'. China has become the largest trading partner ofASEAN and most of its nations. ASEAN is China's third largest trading partner after the European Union and the United States, with bilateral trade worth up toUS$400 billion ($568 billion).

随着冷战的结束，东南亚进入了宝贵的稳定与富足的发展阶段。中国，东南亚与东盟（东南亚国家联盟）之间的关系进入了“黄金20年”阶段。中国成为大多数东盟成员国最大的贸易伙伴。东盟也同时是中国第三大贸易合作伙伴，仅次于欧盟和美国，双边贸易总额已达到四千亿美元。

Anyone with a rational mind could draw the conclusion that China has no reason to damage this relationship.

任何拥有理性思维的人都可以得出这样一个结论，那就是中国没有理由去破坏这样的关系。

These development achievements may have invited jealousy. The US launched its "Asia-Pacific rebalancing" in 2010 and the six years afterwards have seen profound impacts in Southeast Asia.

中国与东南亚在发展关系中取得的成就或许令一些国家心生醋意。美国于2010年实行了“亚太再平衡”战略，六年后，该战略在东南亚地区造成了深远的影响。

As far as the South China Sea issue is concerned, the"Asia-Pacific rebalancing" emboldened certain ASEAN countries, a typical example being the Philippines' provocation of the Huangyan Dao Incident in 2012 and its unilateral initiation of the South China Sea arbitration in January 2013.

“亚太再平衡”战略使一些东盟国家在中国南海问题上滋生了寻衅的野心，其中最具代表性的例子莫过于菲律宾政府在2012年挑起的黄岩岛事件，以及于2013年1月单方面宣布的中国南海仲裁案。

The South China Sea arbitration instigated by the Philippines is political provocation under the cloak of law, designed to legalise illegal claims and deny China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. China will neither accept nor participate in the arbitration.

由菲律宾政府鼓动产生的中国南海仲裁案是披着法律外衣的政治挑衅，其目的是试图将非法诉求合法化，同时否定中国的领土主权、海洋权，以及在中国南海的利益。中国将不会认同也不会受理这样的仲裁案。

The so-called issue of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is a pseudo-proposition. There are more than 100,000 ships from countries around the world sailing safely and freely through the South China Sea every year. As the largest country of the region, and also the world's largest goods trading nation, China's survival is highly dependent on the South China Sea, which is China's most critical trade channel.

而所谓的中国南海的航行自由是一个伪命题。目前，每年有来自全球各国，超过十万艘船舶自由、安全地行驶在中国南海上。作为该地区国土面积最大的国家，同时也作为全球最大的商品贸易国，中国的生存极依赖于中国南海，这是中国最重要的贸易通道。

The peace and stability of the South China Sea and the freedom of navigation and flight in the region is critical to China. China attaches greater importance to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea than any other country, including the United States.

中国南海的和平与稳定，以及该地区航运及空运的自由对于中国至关重要。中国对维持南海地区的和平与稳定的重视胜过包括美国在内的任何一个国家。

China started construction on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea at the end of 2013, the timing of which indicates that China was forced to react, given the changes in regional situation. Any accusations regarding China's construction creating tensions puts the cart before the horse.

2013年末，中国开始在南海部分岛礁上建设工事，这个时间点意味着中国的所作所为是迫于地区形势的改变而做出的应变之举。任何针对中国的岛礁建设的批评都是本末倒置的。

China is the last country to undertake construction in the South China Sea, and construction was carried out on its own islands and reefs.The scale and speed of China's reef construction matched the international responsibilities and obligations assumed by China as a major power.

中国是中国南海中最晚兴建工事的国家，并只在本国岛礁上开展。中国岛礁建设开发的规模和速度符合中国被视为世界大国应有的国际责任和义务。

The Philippines and other claimant countries commenced construction on illegally occupied Chinese islands and reefs well before China, and such construction has never ceased. The accusation that China provoked tensions in the South China Sea is caused by a lack of understanding of China's actions, or is a move to deliberately discredit China.

菲律宾政府和其它申诉国早在中国之前，便已经在中国所属的岛礁上进行非法施工，并从未停止他们非法建设的脚步。指责中国加剧了南海矛盾是对中国的所为缺乏了解的说法，或是对中国的蓄意污蔑。

China firmly supports the existing international system.Through consultations and negotiations, China has solved border issues with twelve land neighbours, accounting for 90 per cent of China's total landborders. This exemplifies China's respect for and compliance with international laws. China does not accept that the arbitration case instigated by the Philippines is an exercise of rights under international law.

中国坚定地拥护着当前的国际局势。通过磋商与斡旋，中国与十二个邻国解决了陆地领土问题争端，占中国国境线的百分之九十。这印证了中国尊重并遵守了相关国际法律。中国不接受菲律宾提出的仲裁案，是我们在国际法的范围内行使的合法权利。

China is willing to continue to adhere to the 'dual-track approach' reached with relevant countries in this region, that is, relevant disputes should be resolved by sovereign states directly concerned through consultation and negotiations, and the peace and stability of the South China Sea should be jointly maintained by China and ASEAN countries.

中国愿意坚持遵守与该区域内相关国家达成的“双轨制”，这意味着相关矛盾应该由牵涉纠纷中的主权国直接开展磋商和斡旋，同时，中国南海的和平与稳定应该由中国与东盟国家共同维护。

Countries in this region have reached the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Provided all parties strictly adhere to the DOC, regional peace and stability can be maintained.

区域内国家已达成《南海各方行为宣言》。如果各方能够坚持遵守该宣言，区域和平与稳定势必得到维护。

Of course, this also requires countries outside of the region, including the United States, to work in the same direction as China and ASEAN nations, rather than the opposite.

当然，这也需要区域外国家，包括美国，与中国和东盟国家保持一致，而非对立。