Sino-Philippines Arbitration Case and Its Influence on The Resolution of South China Sea Disputes

菲律宾发起的仲裁案是以小国身份采用法理主义的方式将其与中国相比的实力弱势和法理弱势转化为战略优势，将中菲之间的南海争端塑造成“权利与武力的较量”，给中国造成巨大的法理挑战和外交困境。仲裁案本身及其后续影响突出了法理主义的重要意义，为南海争端走向法理解决做了必要的推动和铺垫。对中国而言，南海争端可以走向法理解决，不仅是因为参与仲裁或者发起诉讼有助于加强和维护中国在南海的合法权益，树立中国遵守国际法、承担国际责任的大国形象，为中国的和平发展塑造良好的地区周边环境；还因为通过国际法解决相关争议有助于防止域外大国美国的过度介入，使南海争端维持在一个相对可控的状态和范围内，避免地区国家间的岛礁争端演变成大国战略冲突。 The Philippines is pushing forward the South China Sea (SCS) arbitration case against China, attempting to invoke a legalistic approach to turn its disadvantages of strength and jurisprudence to legal advantages over China. It seems that the case is a test for the question of “might versus right”, posing a serious legal challenge and diplomatic difficulty to China. Though China has reiterated its position of neither accepting nor participating in the arbitration, the case itself and its follow-up consequences still highlighted the importance of legalism, and paved the way for a judicious settlement of the South China Sea disputes. As for China, the SCS disputes can be settled judiciously, not only because it can protect and strengthen China’s legal rights and interests in the South China Sea, as well as cultivate a positive image of China as a responsible and law-abiding global power, building a stable neighboring environment for China’s peaceful development, but it also helps to prevent extra-regional countries, like the United States, from getting excessively involved. This judicious approach manages the SCS disputes from a controllable range, preventing maritime disputes among regional countries evolving into strategic rivalry between great powers.