China's Navy captured United States unmanned underwater vehicles in terms of international law who is reasonable?
On December 15, the Chinese Navy in the South China Sea to capture a ship United States unmanned underwater underwater. United States Pentagon press Chief Jeff Davis 16th claims that United States submarine underwater in the South China Sea "international waters" are a "legitimate military measure, enjoy sovereign immunity", there is English words that is United States Government property. The evening of 17th, Defence Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun, China confirmed that the Chinese Navy rescue ship in the South China Sea discovery "unknown device": "to prevent the navigation of a ship is the device based on security and safety hazards, Chinese rescue ship to recognize the device check for us unmanned underwater vehicles. "American warships in Chinese waters frequently came close reconnaissance and military survey activities while expressing opposition, he said," we have decided to transfer of appropriate ways the United States ". 20th, the Chinese side will exchange of unmanned underwater vehicles United States.
In recent years, China and the United States sea conflicts and contradictions frequently. As China and United States game evolution of South China Sea and the United States alternating councils, can be expected to be, "underwater underwater events" will not be the last time.
UUV military and technical background
Underwater unmanned underwater vehicles, UUV for short, is a mainly submarines or surface ships as support platforms, long intelligent autonomous remote navigation device in the water, it can carry a variety of sensors, special equipment or weapons, specific missions and tasks to be performed, is considered the modern Navy "force multipliers". UUV there are remote-controlled underwater vehicle (ROV) and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in two ways.
UUV area is at present one of the weaknesses of the Chinese Navy, similar to China's independent research started relatively late, and American troops that has accumulated over the years. And the rest of the world compared to more than 10 countries developed UUV, United States Navy leader. Teledyne company is concerned for the United States Navy developed the LBS-G underwater gliders, it belongs to the autonomous underwater UUV underwater vehicles (AUV), is one of the LBS littoral battlespace sensing family, but with other types of UUV gap.
This incident, the Chinese military experts said, UUV can collect hydrological data, water salinity, temperature, currents, depth effect, such as the use of sonar is very big, with this information, whether it is a submarine or surface ship and naval aviation antisubmarine warfare, will benefit from it.
Apart from the captured Navy unmanned underwater vehicles, Chinese fishermen have discovered in the South United States unmanned underwater vehicles, suggesting United States of the South China Sea began to shift toward the unmanned underwater reconnaissance. In addition, the UUV was equipped with power systems, volume and dimensions are smaller than the submarines, hiding more suitable for secret underwater reconnaissance and surveying into sensitive waters. Underwater gliders concerned, strictly speaking, is the speed of less than 1 knot detectors for marine environmental data, the data should have been back to United States Navy, but the long-term data collection is essential for future naval warfare.
"UUV event" analysis of international law and international relations
The incident has drawn international attention from the media and think tanks, and events seas, UUV concerned issues such as civilian or military property, involve a number of issues of international law. On the waters of the incident, is not the same: America speaks with one voice said in "international waters"; the Chinese military said events happened to me "about the South China Sea waters"; the Philippines media reported, the incident occurred in the Philippines claimed "exclusive economic zone". Philippine Defense Minister said, the United States notified the Philippine Ambassador to the United States after the incident.
"International waters" is the United States's words, neither a concept of international law, nor the United Nations Convention on law of the Sea (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) legal basis for China and the Philippines have not yet been the delimitation, so "the exclusive economic zone in the Philippines" claim is not accurate. Characterization of the events as "I sea areas under the jurisdiction of South China Sea," a big problem: first, such as occurred in the South China Sea interrupted line, our nature is my implementation to verify recognition of sovereignty; second, even in a broken line outer belongs to China and the Philippines have overlapping sea areas, army of "unknown nationality" underwater implementation to check identification of reasonable and legitimate.
In addition, the military why called "operation UUV is ' Bowditch ', members of civil society, but the UUV was a military facility, enjoys sovereign immunity treatment"?
A State within the exclusive economic zones of other countries engaged in military activities, including military investigation of the legitimacy is the outstanding issues of the Convention. In past "flawless,", similar event in the ("flawless," event is refers to March 2009 United States Navy monitoring ship "flawless," without China license in sea China exclusive economic zone activities), China advocates foreign engaged in "military measurement", activities should attributed to "Science survey", belongs to coastal country exclusive jurisdiction range, should after coastal country approved, and premise should is peace using, and shall not against coast country of security and sovereignty; and United States advocates, "military survey" and Convention of "scientific research" Service objectives are different, not the same, military investigations without prior approval of the coastal State.
The Convention will be "of any coastal State aims at collecting intelligence defence or security compromised behavior" and "research or survey activities" as a threat to security interests of coastal States, this Convention will be a military investigation acts as a threat to the security interests of other countries, and called on all States to respect the security interests of the coastal State. 32nd under China's State security law and the 26th article of the National Defence Act, defence and management of China's right to take effective measures to safeguard the maritime rights and interests.
This happened in my jurisdiction "UUV event", not the United States said measurements of water temperature and salinity data as simple, effective one for spying on the construction of China's Nansha intelligence, huangyan Island dynamics, second, submarine route of exploration in the South China Sea, endangering China's national security, Navy implemented to check identification is based on international and domestic law.
In short, from a positive perspective, this "UUV events" check recognition not only of the so-called "sea arbitration" illegal decision "intermittent line does not conform to the United Nations Convention on the law of the South China Sea," a powerful counterattack and take concrete actions to defend the "Nanhai broken line" and advance the relevant State practice is all about. However, the law enforcement activities of South China Sea supporting the legislation, amending the law, interpretation of the basic law, and even needed to keep up with the administration of Justice.
In the current Constitution of China "Ocean" in the Constitution, the absence of the Basic Law of the sea and other defects, supporting the law enforcement needs of domestic legislation in South China Sea complement and support, and the maritime Court of China sea maritime law enforcement involved in the dispute should also vigorously implement the jurisdiction of the "Nanhai arbitral award" to offset the effect.
"UUV event" follow-up treatment and coping
In my opinion, "UUV event" response to future United States came close reconnaissance of the South China Sea has important implications, can be divided into three levels in response to short-, medium-and long-term.
First, the short term, China's domestic underwater glider research started late. Future Chinese military enterprises such as producing increased underwater glider version, capable of carrying large sensor, detected farther Frogman, naval mines and submarines, anti-submarine capacity is expected to jump in the waters of China. In a subsequent study, in particular civil-military integration and information sharing and UUV for China as a whole and independent research and device improved function.
Second, the medium term, "UUV events" actually plays a Trump, South China Sea a "litmus test" the role of China and the United States in the South China Sea the diplomatic battle, legal and public opinion warfare will continue, including legal battle "short Board" especially should pay attention to. How national law and national practice to make up for weakness, as well as in wartime and peacetime rules of conflict rules and capture at sea, remains a major issue in China.
Only through confrontation against China, should strengthen national marine rights and law enforcement-related legislation and amending legislation, interpretation and judicial.
Third, longer term, should pay attention to the "UUV event" inspiration on China's naval and marine scientific research, promoting China's future new Navy warfare development and civil-military integration of marine scientific research.
First of all, UUV is becoming the American military superiority, part of plans to counter China's dominance of the South China Sea. UUV initial function was reconnaissance, tactical use of the potential is great. The military capture of unmanned underwater glider from 2015 for the Asia-Pacific region carry out hydrographic survey tasks. UUV used to open a new field of modern naval warfare, American troops have even research on unmanned underwater vehicles equipped with weapons. "Know the victorious", push us a new type of information can be obtained with method of combat, and to raise our army's combat capability at sea.
Secondly, the information has dual properties of the marine environment, marine environmental science not only data changes in real time, and collect large, long-term large-scale continuous accumulation, correction and then used to military. The "UUV incident" demonstrates not only the importance of marine environmental data on the country's Navy, reveals the United States Navy for a long time in the area of marine science data collection "military, civil and military" System. In recent years, Chinese military expedition vessel has increased marine scientific research activities. Civil-military integration should continue to promote scientific research in the future, the rational utilization of rules of international law, towards the open sea and the deep, bearing in mind the use of UUV to obtain the marine environment and hydrological information.
(The author is associate researcher at the research center of Shanghai Jiaotong University Kaiyuan law of the sea, Faculty of law)
(Editors: Dou Yuan UN833)
2016-12-22 15:14:50
Surging news
中国海军捕获美国无人潜航器 在国际法上谁占理？
12月15日，中国海军在南海捕获一艘美国无人水下潜航器。美国五角大楼新闻处负责人杰夫·戴维斯16日声称，美方水下潜航器在南海“国际海域”进行的是“合法军事测量，享受主权豁免”，上面有英文字样说明是美国政府财产。17日晚，中国国防部新闻发言人杨宇军确认了中国海军救生船在南海海域发现“不明装置”的情况：“为防止该装置对过往船舶的航行安全和人员安全产生危害，中方救生船对该装置进行识别查证，为美方无人潜航器。”在就美军舰机在中国海域频繁抵近侦察和军事测量活动表示反对的同时，他还透露，“中方决定通过适当方式移交美方”。20日中午，中方将无人潜航器交换美国。
近年来，中国和美国南海矛盾和冲突频频。随着中国和美国南海博弈演进和美国政局交替，可预期的是，“水下潜航器事件”不会是最后一次。
UUV的军事和技术背景
水下无人潜航器，简称称UUV，是一种主要以潜艇或水面舰船为支援平台、能长时间在水下自主远程航行的智能化装置，它可以携带多种传感器、专用设备或武器，执行特定的使命和任务，被视为现代海军的“力量倍增器”。UUV又可分为遥控水下航行器(ROV)和自主式水下航行器(AUV)两种。
UUV领域是中国海军目前的短板之一，中国的类似自主研究起步相对较晚，而美军在这方面积累多年。与世界上其他十几个研制UUV的国家相比，美国海军处于领先地位。这次涉事的是Teledyne公司为美国海军研制的LBS-G水下滑翔机，它属于UUV中的自主式水下潜航器(AUV)，是LBS濒海战场空间感知家族之一，但性能跟其他类型的UUV存在差距。
就此次事件，中国军事专家分析称，UUV可以搜集水文资料，而海水的盐分、温度、洋流、深度等对声呐的使用影响很大，有了这些资料，无论是潜艇作战还是水面舰艇和海军航空兵的反潜作战，都会从中获益。
除此次海军捕获无人潜航器，中国渔民也曾几次在南海发现美国的无人潜航器，这说明美国对南海的水下侦察开始向无人化方向转变。另外，UUV配备了动力系统，体积和尺寸都比潜艇小，隐蔽性更强，适于秘密渗透到敏感水域进行水下侦察和测量。涉事水下滑翔机，严格说是航速不到1节的海洋环境数据探测器，数据应该早已传回美国海军，但这样的长期数据采集对未来海战至关重要。
“UUV事件”的国际法和国际关系分析
此次事件引发了国际媒体和智库的高度关注，而事件发生海域、涉事UUV民用还是军用的属性等问题，更牵涉到若干国际法议题。关于事件发生海域，各方说法并不一致：美方统一口径都说发生在“国际海域”；中国军方称，事件发生在我“南海有关海域”；菲律宾媒报道称，事件发生在菲宣称的“专属经济区”。菲律宾防长表示，美方事发后才通知菲律宾驻美大使。
“国际水域”是美国的一家之辞，既非国际法概念，也没有《联合国海洋法公约》（以下简称《公约》）的法律依据；中国和菲律宾尚未进行海域划界，因此“发生在菲方专属经济区”的说法也并不准确。此次事件定性为“我南海管辖海域”问题不大：其一，如发生在南海断续线以内，我军实施查证识别自然是我主权范围的事；其二，即使在断续线外也属于中国和菲律宾重叠海域，我军对“国籍不明”的潜航器实施查证识别合理合法。
此外，美军方为何称“操作UUV的是‘鲍迪奇’号上的民间人士，但UUV是军事设施，享受主权豁免待遇”?
一国在他国专属经济区内从事军事调查等军事活动的合法性，是《公约》悬而未决的问题。在过去“无瑕号”等类似事件中（“无瑕号”事件是指2009年3月美国海军监测船“无瑕号”未经中方许可在南海中国专属经济区活动），中国主张外军从事“军事测量”等活动应归于“科学调查”，属于沿海国专属管辖范围，应经过沿海国批准，并且前提应是和平利用、不得危害沿岸国的安全和主权；而美国主张，“军事调查”和《公约》的“科学研究”的服务目的不同，不能等同，军事调查无需沿海国的事先批准。
《公约》将“任何目的在于搜集情报使沿海国的防务或安全受损害的行为”和“研究或测量活动”视为对沿海国安全利益的威胁，这说明公约也将军事调查行为视为对他国安全利益的威胁，并要求各国尊重沿海国的安全利益。根据中国《国家安全法》第32条、《国防法》第26条，中国有权采取有效的防卫和管理措施以维护海洋权益。
此次发生在我管辖海域的“UUV事件”，并非美国所说测量水温盐度数据这么简单，实际一为刺探中国南沙岛礁建设情报、监视黄岩岛动态，二是探测中国在南海的潜艇航路等，危害中国的国家安全，海军实施查证识别是有国际法和国内法依据的。
总之，从积极层面看，此次“UUV事件”查证识别行动不仅是对所谓“南海仲裁案”非法裁定“南海断续线不符合《联合国海洋法公约》”的有力反击，也是以实际行动捍卫“南海断续线”并推进相关国家实践的体现。但是，南海执法活动的配套立法、修法、释法甚至司法工作急需跟上。
中国目前存在《宪法》中“海洋入宪”、《海洋基本法》缺位问题等缺憾，南海海域的执法需要国内立法配套的补充与支持， 而中国有关海域的海事法院还应对海洋执法所涉及的争端积极实施管辖，对“南海仲裁裁决”起到冲抵效果。
“UUV事件”后续处理及应对
笔者认为，“UUV事件”对中国今后应对美国南海的抵近侦察具有重要启示意义，可分为短期、中期、长期三层面予以应对。
第一，短期看，中国国内水下滑翔机研究的起步较晚。未来中国军工企业如能大量制造增大版的水下滑翔机，将能搭载大型传感器，探测到距离更远的蛙人、水雷和潜艇，中国在相关海域的反潜能力有望实现跃升。在后续研究中，尤其应注重军民融合和信息共享，进而为中国的UUV整体自主研究和器件改进发挥作用。
第二，中期看，“UUV事件”实际已经起到对特朗普南海态度“试金石”的作用，中国和美国在南海的外交战、法律战和舆论战还将持续，其中法律战的“短板”尤其应引起重视。如何从国内法和国家实践层面弥补短板、以及研究战时和平时的海上冲突规则和捕获规则，仍是摆在中国面前的重大课题。
仅凭实力对抗，这对中国不利，今后应加强国内海洋维权执法相关的立法、修法、释法和司法。
第三，长期看，应重视“UUV事件”对中国海军作战和海洋科考的启示，推进中国未来海军新型作战方式的发展和海洋科考的军民融合。
首先，UUV正成为美军保持军事优势、反制中国主导南海的计划的一部分。UUV的初步功能是侦察，但潜在的作战用途却很大。此次我军捕获的无人水下滑翔机自2015年就用于亚太地区执行水文调查任务。UUV的使用打开了现代海战的全新领域，美军甚至已经在研究给无人潜航器搭载武器。“知己知彼，百战不殆”，可借助获取的信息推进研究应对美军新型作战方式，并提升我军的海上作战能力。
其次，海洋环境信息具有军民两用属性，海洋环境科学数据不仅实时变化，而且搜集范围大，需要长期大范围持续积累、修正，然后用于军事。此次“UUV事件”不仅表明海洋环境数据对大国海军的重要性，还透露出美国海军长期以来在海洋科学数据搜集方面“军用为主、民为军用”的体制。近年来，中国军民科考船已经加强海洋科考活动。今后应继续推进科考的军民融合、合理利用国际法规则，走向远海和深海，同时注意运用UUV获取海洋环境和水文信息。
（作者系上海交通大学凯原法学院海洋法治研究中心副研究员）
(责任编辑：窦远行 UN833)
2016-12-22 15:14:50
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