Members: yongxing island into a Bermuda-registered offshore _ | | Bermuda offshore news

Can become in a South China Sea Island of Bermuda-offshore

Zhang XING Chen Xiaochen

In the two sessions this year, the South China Sea once again become the focus. At the national people's Congress, at a press conference, spokesman Fu ying was asked three times to the South China Sea. Some proposals about the South China Sea. One of the most notable, than by the CPPCC, Han Fangming, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Committee submitted "to build the yongxing island off the coast of Bermuda-registered" proposal.

Offshore, through lower taxes and even tax policy, lax financial regulation and open management program to attract foreign enterprises registered offshore company. Central, Hainan Province, and policy and legal support of the proposal, allowing the yongxing island of the Xisha Islands offshore financial business, and promoted by the South China Sea economic zone development in the South and the central strategic layout.

In my opinion, regardless of the specific content of the proposal, its logic itself alone--the island's economic development as a means to layout of the South China Sea, should be available for more complex provide new breaks for the sea games.

In fact, economic development has become the main means to preserve the sovereignty of South China Sea. From fishery resources in South China Sea oil and gas and to develop initiatives to deepwater oil and gas field exploration, economic means to show its significance. Difference is, oil and fishery development mainly reflected in the sea especially disputed sovereignty claim, and the development of its offshore financial sector would help to strengthen the management of controlled island.

Although already realize the development and administration of the Paracel Islands, the economic role has often been diluted. A real problem is that in these islands and reefs in China's reasonable military and civilian deployment, likely to cause unnecessary tensions with neighboring countries, and became the United States, and Japan and other outside countries of multilateralization of the South China Sea issue for environmentalists. In this context, the economic development function in a precisely controlled Island, is also an effective means to reduce miscalculation, reduction of external intervention.

It should be said that for yongxing Island, a small (about 4 square kilometers), is dependent on external funding, but also of great strategic significance for island development offshore business is not only a realistic choice or better service to safeguard sovereignty.

While, phase more Yu tourism services (height by season effect), in three sand carried out financial and the away from Bank business can brings more stable of economic source; on the, established registered company and perfect the financial based facilities of process, can gave birth to large work opportunities, and increased resident population, and established island within within health of economic circle, to to non-militarization of means strengthening on island of actual control.

In less than 50 square kilometers of the total area of Bermuda, for example, since the financial sector on the island beginning in 60 of the last century, Bermuda has now become the world's leading offshore and financial centre, the income and employment of the population far exceeds the tourism industry, and became one of the most affluent areas. Offshore island business is concentrated almost entirely in the Hamilton area of about one square kilometre, the capital of the region. Carrying about 20% of the global reinsurance business here, brought together more than 500 more than the company's physical presence, with nearly all other exempt company. It is worth mentioning that, with the Cayman Islands, the Virgin Islands and other tax havens are different, relatively strict in financial regulation in Bermuda, which guarantees the stability of the registered investment.

However, at this stage, to build the yongxing island for offshore financial centers, Bermuda also has many limitations, but through the tax preferential policies, such as development of Island offshore registration and financial services is not feasible. In this regard, some relatively mature offshore Center experience, or we can provide some further thoughts on yongxing Island offshore business references.

First of all, including Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, offshore centres are independent and open global financial system can best avoid financial regulation and taxation control, in order to ensure the free flow of capital.

At present, China maintains strict foreign exchange controls. Whether relaxed on this issue, is the key to international offshoring yongxing island. However, seen from another angle, yongxing island is build for a new offshore economies, no baggage, can not only be financial reform experimental field, even when the conditions are ripe, you can pilot a free trade area and become a pioneer in testing the waters offshore financial centres. Tax and financial supervision level, Central or by tax and other preferential policies to attract mainland enterprises to come to register.

In this connection, the United States Puerto Rico seemed to provide a sample. Although the United States Congress and the IRS still maintained its taxation and supervision of financial activities, in recent years, Puerto Rico through preferential tax policies to attract a number of offshore enterprises.

Secondly, the location. Most offshore financial centres and registered with a strong advantage. For example, off the coast of Bermuda insurance and reinsurance business benefited from New York's powerhouse. By contrast, yongxing island of Hong Kong, China in the North, South of Singapore, in the middle if you build an offshore financial center, is "crowded," geographical advantages than Bermuda. Thus, the national policy support, create the yongxing Island offshore, making it effective butt other offshore centres in the field, and form relationships rather than crowding out relationships is crucial.

Safety of capital is also an important factor. Most offshore centres away from geo-political disputes, maintaining political stability and effective Government. In contrast, the tension in the South China Sea will bring obstacles to the development of the financial sector in a South China Sea Island. Which is why a lot of people don't believe in yongxing Island develop offshore financial reasons. Of course, this view has underestimated the Chinese South China Sea as "real masters" in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea on the determination. However, to make the yongxing Island register of international financial capital, we also need to highlight the demilitarization of the yongxing Island use make certain efforts.

In addition, the legal system, currently the world's most famous offshore centres using Department of law of the sea. This system is considered high tolerance for financial innovation, and ease of integration with the legal system of Western multinationals. China, as the civil law countries, whether the "compatible" to an offshore Center?

In short, the yongxing Island, due to various conditions, even if offshore on the island can enter the substantive stage of development, it is difficult to attract international capital in the short term. However, we might as well based on their own enterprise, and through the legal and financial system innovation, lower the barriers to legal convergence.

Of course, regardless of the yongxing Island offshore development business, the policies are ultimately in the South China Sea in order to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. In this theme, we might as well open, bold and innovative thinking, find out more effective paths to development and governance in the South seas.

(The author Mr CHEUNG STRATFOR geopolitical researcher at the research center of the Galaxy, now living in Bermuda; the author Chen Xiaochen et researcher at the finance Research Institute of people's Congress)

Responsible editor: Xiang Changming SN123

Article keywords:
Bermuda offshore

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委员:将永兴岛打造成为百慕大式离岸注册地|百慕大|离岸注册_新闻资讯

　　南海岛礁能成为 百慕大式离岸注册地吗

　　张之星 陈晓晨

　　今年全国两会中，南海再次成为各方焦点。在全国人大记者会上，发言人傅莹被三次问到南海问题。也有一些提案议案涉及南海。其中最受瞩目的，莫过于由全国政协委员、外事委员会副主任韩方明提交的“将永兴岛打造成为百慕大式的离岸注册地”的提案。

　　离岸注册地，即通过低税甚至免税的政策，宽松的金融监管及开放的管理程序，吸引企业注册成立境外离岸公司。提案建议中央和海南省通过政策和法律支持，允许西沙的永兴岛发展离岸金融业务，并由此推动南海经济带的发展以及中央在南海的战略布局。

　　笔者认为，且不论提案的具体内容，单就其逻辑本身——将海岛的经济开发作为南海布局的手段，应可为日益复杂化的南海博弈提供新的破局思路。

　　事实上，经济开发早已成为维护南海主权的主要手段。从最初南海油气与渔业资源的共同开发倡议，到深水油气田的勘探，经济手段都彰显其重大意义。不同的 是，油气与渔业开发的作用主要体现在对海上特别是有争议海域的主权宣示，而发展离岸金融业则有助于加强对可控岛屿的实际管理。

　　尽管我国 早已实现了对西沙群岛的开发和行政管理，其经济功能却经常被淡化。一个现实问题是，我国在这些岛礁上合理的军事和民用部署，容易造成周边国家的不必要的紧 张情绪，并成为美国、日本等一些外部国家将南海问题多边化的口实。在这种背景下，明确一些可控岛礁的经济开发功能，也不失为一种降低误判、减少外部干预的 有效手段。

　　应该说，对于永兴岛这样一个面积较小（目前约4平方公里）、经济依靠外部资助但又极具战略意义的岛屿来说，发展离岸业务不仅是一种现实选择，也可更好地为维护主权服务。

　　一方面，相较于旅游服务业（高度受季节影响），在三沙开展金融及离岸业务能带来更为稳定的经济来源；另一方面，设立注册公司以及完善各项金融基础设施的过程，能够催生大量工作机会、增加常住人口、建立岛内内生的经济圈，从而以非军事化的手段加强对岛屿的实际控制。

　　以总面积不到50平方公里的百慕大群岛为例，自上世纪60年代岛内金融业起步开始，百慕大目前已成为全球最主要的离岸注册和金融中心，所产生的收入和就 业人口远超旅游业，并使之一跃成为最富裕的地区之一。岛内离岸金融业务几乎全部集中于首府哈密尔顿方圆约一平方公里的区域内。这里承载着全球近两成的再保 险业务，汇集500多家注册公司的实体办事处，并拥有近千家各类其他豁免公司。值得一提的是，与开曼、维京群岛等其他避税天堂不同，百慕大在金融监管方面 相对严格，这也保证了注册投资的稳定性。

　　不过，就现阶段而言，将永兴岛打造为百慕大式的离岸金融中心还存在着诸多限制条件，但通过税收等优惠政策发展岛内离岸注册和金融业务并非不可行。对此，一些相对成熟的离岸中心的经验，或可为我们进一步思考永兴岛离岸业务提供一些参考。

　　首先，包括百慕大、开曼群岛在内，全球离岸中心大多具备独立和开放的金融体系，能在最大限度规避金融监管及税收控制，从而保证资本的自由流通。

　　目前，我国仍保持着较为严格的外汇资本管制。是否能在这一问题上有所松动，是永兴岛开展国际离岸业务的关键。不过，换个角度看，永兴岛若被打造为一个新 兴的离岸经济体，将没有什么包袱，不仅可以成为金融改革试验田，甚至在条件成熟时可以试点自由贸易区并成为试水离岸金融中心的先锋。在税收和金融监管层 面，中央也可以通过税收和其他各项政策优惠吸引一些国内企业前来注册。

　　在这一点上，美属波多黎各似乎可以提供一个样本。尽管美国国会及国税局依然保持了对其税收及金融活动的监督，近年来，波多黎各依然通过优惠的税收政策吸引了不少离岸注册企业。

　　其次，地理位置。大部分离岸金融中心和注册地都具有较强的区位优势。例如，百慕大的离岸保险、再保险业务直接得益于纽约的辐射作用。相比之下，永兴岛北 有中国香港，南有新加坡，在中间如果再建个离岸金融中心，将显得“拥挤”，地缘优势不及百慕大。因此，国家政策的扶持，对打造永兴岛离岸区、使之有效对接 域内其他离岸中心，形成辐射关系而非排挤关系，显得至关重要。

　　资本的安全性也是一个重要因素。绝大多数离岸中心远离地缘政治纷争，并通过有效政府保持政治稳定性。相比之下，南海紧张局势将给南海岛礁发展金融业带来 阻碍。这也是为什么不少人不看好永兴岛发展离岸金融的原因。当然，这种观点低估了中国作为南海“真正的主人”在维护南海和平与稳定上的决心。不过，要使永 兴岛成为国际金融资本的注册地，我们还需要在突出永兴岛非军事化用途等方面做出一定努力。

　　此外，在法律体系上，目前全球著名的离岸中心大多采用海洋法系。这一体系被认为对于金融创新的宽容度较高，且便于与西方跨国公司法律体系接轨。而中国作为大陆法系国家，能否“兼容”一个离岸中心呢？

　　总之，对永兴岛来说，囿于各种现实条件，即便岛内离岸区能迈入实质发展阶段，也很难在短期内吸引跨国资本。不过，我们大可立足本国企业，再通过各项法律、金融体系的一系列创新，降低法律衔接上的壁垒。

　　当然，无论永兴岛能否发展起离岸金融业务，在南海的各项政策最终都是为了维护中国的主权和领土完整。在这一主题下，我们不妨打开思路、大胆创新，摸索出更有效的南海开发与治理的路径。

　　（作者张之星系战略预测公司地缘政治研究中心研究员，现居百慕大；作者陈晓晨系人大重阳金融研究院研究员）

责任编辑：向昌明 SN123

文章关键词：
百慕大 离岸注册

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