[2008.06.21] Profit over patriotism 利大于义

China, Japan and Taiwan
中日台三边关系

Profit over patriotism
利大于义

Jun 19th 2008 | TAIPEIAND TOKYO
From The Economist print edition
2008年6月19日 台北 东京
《经济学人》印刷版

A new geographical discovery in Asia: a “sea of peace and co-operation”
亚洲地理新发现：”和平合作之海”

THE simmering dispute between China and Japanover the East China Sea has long been high onthe list of possible regional flashpoints. It centres on China’s development of undersea natural gas andoil deposits straddling what Japansays is the borderline between the two countries’ exclusive economic zones. Adeal announced on June 18th allows Japanese investment in Chinese projects inreturn for a profit-share. At the very least, the dispute has fallen down theflashpoint list.
中日东海之争一直蓄势待发，并成为地区冲突高危点之一。问题症结在于，日方认为中方所开发的海洋油气田越过了两国专属经济区边界。6月18日，两国宣布达成协议，允许日方投资中方项目，双方均沾利益。最终，两国东海之争有惊无险。

There were small demonstrations against thedeal in China.But they were a far cry from the wave of anti-Japanese protests three yearsago, when the dispute looked potentially nasty. All the fields are estimated tohold gas equivalent to just three weeks’ Japanese consumption but thegovernment had protested loudly at the appearance of Chinese survey vessels anddrilling platforms in the disputed area. Though on China’sside, extraction might take gas from Japan’s.
对于此项协议，中国国内发生少量抗议活动。但较之三年前的反日浪潮，可谓天壤之别。那时，东海问题前途未卜。虽然东海各油田的储量之和仅敷日本三周之需，但日本政府对中方探测船只及钻井平台在争议区的活动高调反对。虽然开采活动位于中方一侧，但日方石油资源可能因此流失。

China ignored calls by Japanto suspend drilling. Planes and patrol vessels from both sides buzzed aroundthe disputed areas. Later in 2005 aChinese naval squadron appeared near the Chunxiao gasfield (known in Japaneseas Shirakaba). One of the ships turned its gun turret on a Japanesereconnaissance plane. Japanese politicians condemned China’s gunboat tactics and warnedof the risk of conflict.
对于日方停止开采的要求，中方并未理会。双方的飞机和巡逻船只麇集于争议海域。2005年底，中方舰队现身春晓油气田（亦即日方所称的”白桦油气田”）。其中一艘舰只将炮管瞄向日方侦察机。日政界指责中方的炮舰政策，并警告由此导致冲突的风险。

In endless rounds of negotiations sincethen, China and Japan havestepped back from the brink. The principle of the gasfields’ joint developmenthas long been agreed. But a deal seemed elusive. Intervention from the top wasneeded but took a long time coming. It followed a visit by Hu Jintao to Japan lastmonth, the first in a decade by a Chinese president. Like Yasuo Fukuda, Japan’sprime minister, he champions better bilateral relations. This week Japan announced that its navy is to make anunprecedented port call in China.
此后的谈判旷日持久。中日双方虽均已放弃对抗，并早就达成了共同开发油气田的原则，但最终方案却一直难求。亟需的政府高层干预姗姗来迟。上个月，胡锦涛访日，这是中国国家主席十年来首次访日。同日本首相福田康夫一样，胡锦涛倡导两国和解。本周，日方宣布其海军舰只将对中国进行首次造访。

For Mr Fukuda, the gas deal presages a”sea of peace and co-operation”. In the Chunxiao field, Japan will forma joint venture with two Chinese state-owned companies, with profits split inproportion to their investment. Both sides have agreed that the Longjing field,which more certainly extends across the median line, will in future also bedeveloped jointly, with costs and profits split. Agreement has yet to bereached on other fields.
对于福田首相来说，此次东海协议昭示着”和平合作之海”的诞生。日方将与两家中国国有企业共同出资经营”春晓”油气田，并依据股份与中方分配利润。双方同意，对于横跨中间线的”龙井”油气田，未来将共同开发，并共享利益。关于其它油气田，双方迄今尚未达成一致。

The deal kicks matters of sovereignty downthe road. The UN’s Convention on the Law of the Sea recognises economic rightsextending 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) from a country’s shoreline. Butthe East China Sea is just 360 miles at itsbroadest. Japanclaims its boundary as the median line. But Chinasays its zone extends to the edge of the continental shelf, almost to Japan. Theconvention does not specify how to resolve overlapping claims.
此次协议绕过了主权争议。《联合国海洋法公约》规定了离岸200海里（合370公里）范围之内的经济权益。然而东海海域最宽处仅360海里。日方坚称以中间线划界。而中方则认为其领海范围应延伸至其大陆架边缘，几乎逼近日本。此次协议中却并未明确如何解决这一矛盾。

Territorial matters remain prickly. Areminder came with the unintentional sinking on June 10th of a recreationalfishing boat from Taiwan bya Japanese patrol vessel near the Senkaku islands (Diaoyutai in Chinese), whichare controlled by Japan butclaimed by Taiwan and China. Thevessel picked up all 16 passengers and crew.
领土问题仍十分棘手。最近的一次事件发生在6月10日。一艘台湾海钓船在尖阁列岛（即中方所称的钓鱼台岛）海域被一艘日方巡逻舰撞沉。日方救起了共16名钓客及船员。该岛由日方实际控制，但台湾与中国皆对此岛声称主权。

Given Taiwan’sChinese-imposed isolation, the island is keen to be on friendly terms with Japan, one ofthe few countries to grant Taiwanese visa-free entry. But over the Senkakus,Taiwanese show an emotional side. They were inflamed by Japan’s claimthat the Taiwanese skipper was to blame for the collision, and by only vagueexpressions of regret. The Taiwangovernment officially recalled its unofficial ambassador to Tokyo, deemed to be too pro-Japanese. And onJune 16th nine Taiwanese patrol vessels escorted a boatful of nationalists intoJapanese waters.
台湾受到中方孤立，故一直对日本示好。而日本也是为数不多的给予台湾免签待遇的国家之一。然则对于尖阁问题，台岛民众却显示了另一面。此后，日方宣称台籍船长应就碰触事件负责，并对此仅做了模糊道歉。这使得双方矛盾升级。台政府官方召回了过于亲日的驻日代表。6月16日，一艘载有台湾抗议者的船只在两艘巡逻舰的护卫下驶入日本海域。

Mr Fukuda’s government is playing thematter down. Admitting the coastguard was heavy-handed, it promised to ensurethat legal claims for compensation ran smoothly. Japan’sman in Taiwancalled on the Taiwanese captain, but offered no formal apology. The matter maydie down. But the Chinese have cheekily suggested to the Japanese the jointdevelopment of possible gasfields around the Senkakus, too-which would be sureto rile Taiwan.
福田政府正试图低调处理此事。日方承认是海上保安厅处理过当，并承诺将妥善处理理赔请求。日驻台官员探视了台籍船长，不过并未官方道歉。此次事件可能逐渐平息。但中方也不无戏谑地提醒日方，中日共同开发尖阁列岛周边油气田也必定将刺激台方。

译者：  houyhnhnm　　http://www.ecocn.org/forum/viewthread.php?tid=12208&extra=page%3D1