一、南海諸島是中國固有領土
I. Nanhai Zhudao are China’s Inherent Territory

（一）中國對南海諸島的主權是歷史上確立的
i. China’s sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao is established in the course of history

8. 中國人民自古以來在南海諸島和相關海域生活和從事生產活動。中國最早發現、命名和開發利用南海諸島及相關海域，最早并持續、和平、有效地對南海諸島及相關海域行使主權和管轄，確立了對南海諸島的主權和在南海的相關權益。
8. The Chinese people have since ancient times lived and engaged in production activities on Nanhai Zhudao and in relevant waters. China is the first to have discovered, named, and explored and exploited Nanhai Zhudao and relevant waters, and the first to have continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them, thus establishing sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and the relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea.

9. 早在公元前2世紀的西漢時期，中國人民就在南海航行，并在長期實踐中發現了南海諸島。
9. As early as the 2nd century BCE in the Western Han Dynasty, the Chinese people sailed in the South China Sea and discovered Nanhai Zhudao in the long course of activities.

10. 中國歷史古籍，例如東漢的《異物志》、三國時期的《扶南傳》、宋代的《夢粱錄》和《嶺外代答》、元代的《島夷志略》、明代的《東西洋考》和《順風相送》、清代的《指南正法》和《海國聞見錄》等，不僅記載了中國人民在南海的活動情況，而且記錄了南海諸島的地理位置和地貌特征、南海的水文和氣象特點，以很多生動形象的名稱為南海諸島命名，如“漲海崎頭”、“珊瑚洲”、“九乳螺洲”、“石塘”、“千里石塘”、“萬里石塘”、“長沙”、“千里長沙”、“萬里長沙”等。
10. A lot of Chinese historical literatures chronicle the activities of the Chinese people in the South China Sea. These books include, among others, Yi Wu Zhi (An Account of Strange Things) published in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), Fu Nan Zhuan (An Account of Fu Nan) during the period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280), Meng Liang Lu (Record of a Daydreamer) and Ling Wai Dai Da (Notes for the Land beyond the Passes) in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Dao Yi Zhi Lüe (A Brief Account of the Islands) in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Dong Xi Yang Kao (Studies on the Oceans East and West) and Shun Feng Xiang Song (Fair Winds for Escort) in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Zhi Nan Zheng Fa (Compass Directions) and Hai Guo Wen Jian Lu (Records of Things Seen and Heard about the Coastal Regions) in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). These books also record the geographical locations and geomorphologic characteristics of Nanhai Zhudao as well as hydrographical and meteorological conditions of the South China Sea. These books record vividly descriptive names the Chinese people gave to Nanhai Zhudao, such as “Zhanghaiqitou” (twisted atolls on the rising sea), “Shanhuzhou” (coral cays), “Jiuruluozhou” (nine isles of cowry), “Shitang” (rocky reefs), “Qianlishitang” (thousand-li rocky reefs), “Wanlishitang” (ten thousand-li rocky reefs), “Changsha” (long sand cays), “Qianlichangsha” (thousand-li sand cays), and “Wanlichangsha” (ten thousand-li sand cays).

11. 中國漁民在開發利用南海的歷史過程中還形成一套相對固定的南海諸島命名體系：如將島和沙洲稱為“峙”，將礁稱為“鏟”、“線”、“沙”，將環礁稱為“匡”、“圈”、“塘”，將暗沙稱為“沙排”等。明清時期形成的《更路簿》是中國漁民往來于中國大陸沿海地區和南海諸島之間的航海指南，以多種版本的手抄本流傳并沿用至今；記錄了中國人民在南海諸島的生活和生產開發活動，記載了中國漁民對南海諸島的命名。其中對南沙群島島、礁、灘、沙的命名至少有70余處，有的用羅盤方位命名，如丑未（渚碧礁）、東頭乙辛（蓬勃暗沙）；有的用特產命名，如赤瓜線（赤瓜礁）、墨瓜線（南屏礁）；有的用島礁形狀命名，如鳥串（仙娥礁）、雙擔（信義礁）；有的用某種實物命名，如鍋蓋峙（安波沙洲）、秤鉤峙（景宏島）；有的以水道命名，如六門沙（六門礁）。
11. The Chinese fishermen have developed a relatively fixed naming system for the various components of Nanhai Zhudao in the long process of exploration and exploitation of the South China Sea. Under this system, islands and shoals have become known as “Zhi”; reefs “Chan”, “Xian”, or “Sha”; atolls “Kuang”, “Quan” or “Tang”; and banks “Shapai”. Geng Lu Bu (Manual of Sea Routes), a kind of navigation guidebook for Chinese fishermen’s journeys between the coastal regions of China’s mainland and Nanhai Zhudao, came into being and circulation in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and has been handed down in various editions and versions of handwritten copies and is still in use even today. It shows that the Chinese people lived and carried out production activities on, and how they named Nanhai Zhudao. Geng Lu Bu records names for at least 70 islands, reefs, shoals and cays of Nansha Qundao. Some were named after compass directions in Chinese renditions, such as Chouwei (Zhubi Jiao) and Dongtou Yixin (Pengbo Ansha); some were named after local aquatic products in the surrounding waters such as Chigua Xian (Chigua Jiao, “chigua” means “red sea cucumber”) and Mogua Xian (Nanping Jiao, “mogua” means “black sea cucumber”); some were named after their shapes, such as Niaochuan (Xian’e Jiao, “niaochuan” means “bird string”) and Shuangdan (Xinyi Jiao, “shuangdan” means “shoulder poles”); some were named after physical objects, such as Guogai Zhi (Anbo Shazhou, “guogai” means “pot cover”) and Chenggou Zhi (Jinghong Dao, “chenggou” means “steelyard hook”); still some were named after waterways such as Liumen Sha (Liumen Jiao, “liumen” means “six doorways”).

12. 中國人民對南海諸島的命名，部分被西方航海家引用并標注在一些19至20世紀權威的航海指南和海圖中。如Namyit（鴻庥島）、Sin Cowe（景宏島）、Subi（渚碧礁）來源于海南方言發音“南乙”、“秤鉤”、“丑未”。
12. Some of the names given by the Chinese people to Nanhai Zhudao were adopted by Western navigators and marked in some authoritative navigation guidebooks and charts published in the 19th and 20th centuries. For instance, Namyit (Hongxiu Dao), Sin Cowe (Jinghong Dao) and Subi (Zhubi Jiao) originate from “Nanyi”, “Chenggou” and “Chouwei” as pronounced in Hainan dialects.

13. 大量歷史文獻和文物資料證明，中國人民對南海諸島及相關海域進行了持續不斷的開發和利用。明清以來，中國漁民每年乘東北信風南下至南沙群島海域從事漁業生產活動，直至次年乘西南信風返回大陸。還有部分中國漁民常年留居島上，站峙捕撈、挖井汲水、墾荒種植、蓋房建廟、飼養禽畜等。根據中外史料記載和考古發現，南沙群島部分島礁上曾有中國漁民留下的作物、水井、房屋、廟宇、墓塚和碑刻等。
13. Numerous historical documents and objects prove that the Chinese people have explored and exploited in a sustained way Nanhai Zhudao and relevant waters. Starting from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Chinese fishermen sailed southward on the northeasterly monsoon to Nansha Qundao and relevant waters for fishery production activities and returned on the southwesterly monsoon to the mainland the following year. Some of them lived on the islands for years, going for fishing, digging wells for fresh water, cultivating land and farming, building huts and temples, and raising livestock. Chinese and foreign historical literature as well as archaeological finds show that there were crops, wells, huts, temples, tombs and tablet inscriptions left by Chinese fishermen on some islands and reefs of Nansha Qundao.

14. 許多外國文獻記錄了很長一段時間內只有中國人在南沙群島生產生活的事實。
14. Many foreign documents also recorded the fact that during a long period of time only Chinese lived and worked on Nansha Qundao.

15. 1868年出版的英國海軍部《中國海指南》提到南沙群島鄭和群礁時指出：“海南漁民，以捕取海參、介殼為活，各島都有其足跡，也有久居島礁上的”，“在太平島上的漁民要比其他島上的漁民生活得更加舒適，與其他島相比，太平島上的井水要好得多”。1906年的《中國海指南》以及1912年、1923年、1937年等各版《中國航海志》多處載明中國漁民在南沙群島上生產生活。
15. The China Sea Directory published in 1868 by order of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty of the United Kingdom, when referring to Zhenghe Qunjiao of Nansha Qundao, observed that “Hainan fishermen, who subsist by collecting trepang and tortoise-shell, were found upon most of these islands, some of whom remain for years amongst the reefs”, and that “[t]he fishermen upon Itu-Aba island [Taiping Dao] were more comfortably established than the others, and the water found in the well on that island was better than elsewhere.” The China Sea Directory published in 1906 and The China Sea Pilot in its 1912, 1923 and 1937 editions made in many parts explicit records of the Chinese fishermen living and working on Nansha Qundao.

16. 1933年9月在法國出版的《彩繪殖民地世界》雜志記載：南沙群島9島之中，惟有華人（海南人）居住，華人之外并無他國人。當時西南島（南子島）上計有居民7人，中有孩童2人；帝都島（中業島）上計有居民5人；斯帕拉島（南威島）計有居民4人，較1930年且增加1人；羅灣島（南鑰島）上，有華人所留之神座、茅屋、水井；伊都阿巴島（太平島），雖不見人跡，而發現中國字碑，大意謂運糧至此，覓不見人，因留藏于鐵皮（法文原文為石頭）之下；其他各島，亦到處可見漁人居住之蹤跡。該雜志還記載，太平島、中業島、南威島等島嶼上植被茂盛，有水井可飲用，種有椰子樹、香蕉樹、木瓜樹、菠蘿、青菜、土豆等，蓄養有家禽，適合人類居住。
16. The French magazine Le Monde Colonial Illustré published in September 1933 contains the following records: Only Chinese people (Hainan natives) lived on the nine islands of Nansha Qundao and there were no people from other countries. Seven were on Nanzi Dao (South West Cay), two of them were children. Five lived on Zhongye Dao (Thitu Island); four lived on Nanwei Dao (Spratly Island), one person more over that of 1930. There were worship stands, thatched cottages and wells left by the Chinese on Nanyao Dao (Loaita Island). No one was sighted on Taiping Dao (Itu Aba Island), but a tablet scripted with Chinese characters was found, which said that, in that magazine’s rendition, “Moi, Ti Mung, patron de jonque, suis venu ici à la pleine lune de mars pour vous porter des aliments. Je n’ai trouvé personne, je laisse le riz à l’abri des pierres et je pars.” Traces were also found of fishermen living on the other islands. This magazine also records that there are abundant vegetation, wells providing drinking water, coconut palms, banana trees, papaya trees, pineapples, green vegetables and potatoes as well as poultry on Taiping Dao, Zhongye Dao, Nanwei Dao and other islands, and that these islands are habitable.

17. 1940年出版的日本文獻《暴風之島》和1925年美國海軍航道測量署發行的《亞洲領航》（第四卷）等也記載了中國漁民在南沙群島生產生活的情況。
17. Japanese literature Boufuu No Shima (Stormy Island) published in 1940 as well as The Asiatic Pilot, Vol. IV, published by the United States Hydrographic Office in 1925 also have accounts about Chinese fishermen who lived and worked on Nansha Qundao.

18. 中國是最早開始并持續對南海諸島及相關海上活動進行管理的國家。歷史上，中國通過行政設治、水師巡視、資源開發、天文測量、地理調查等手段，對南海諸島和相關海域進行了持續、和平、有效的管轄。
18. China is the first to have continuously exercised authority over Nanhai Zhudao and relevant maritime activities. In history, China has exercised jurisdiction in a continuous, peaceful and effective manner over Nanhai Zhudao and in relevant waters through measures such as establishment of administrative setups, naval patrols, resources development, astronomical observation and geographical survey.

19. 例如，宋代，中國在兩廣地區設有經略安撫使，總綏南疆。宋代曾公亮在《武經總要》中提到中國為加強南海海防，設立巡海水師，巡視南海。清代明誼編著的《瓊州府志》、鐘元棣編著的《崖州志》等著作都把“石塘”、“長沙”列入“海防”條目。
19. For instance, in the Song Dynasty, China established a post of Jing Lüe An Fu Shi (Imperial Envoy for Management and Pacification) in the regions now known as Guangdong and Guangxi to govern the southern territory. It is mentioned in Zeng Gongliang’s Wujing Zongyao (Outline Record of Military Affairs) that, in order to strengthen defense in the South China Sea, China established naval units to conduct patrols therein. In the Qing Dynasty, Ming Yi’s Qiongzhou Fuzhi (Chronicle of Qiongzhou Prefecture), Zhong Yuandi’s Yazhou Zhi (Chronicle of Yazhou Prefecture) and others all listed “Shitang” and “Changsha” under the items of “maritime defense”.

20. 中國很多官修地方志，如《廣東通志》、《瓊州府志》、《萬州志》等，在“疆域”或“輿地山川”條目中有“萬州有千里長沙、萬里石塘”或類似記載。
20. Many of China’s local official records, such as Guangdong Tong Zhi (General Chronicle of Guangdong), Qiongzhou Fu Zhi (Chronicle of Qiongzhou Prefecture) and Wanzhou Zhi (Chronicle of Wanzhou), contain in the section on “territory” or “geography, mountains and waters” a statement that “Wanzhou covers ‘Qianlichangsha’ and ‘Wanlishitang’” or something similar.

21. 中國歷代政府還在官方地圖上將南海諸島標繪為中國領土。1755年《皇清各直省分圖》之《天下總輿圖》、1767年《大清萬年一統天下圖》、1810年《大清萬年一統地理全圖》、1817年《大清一統天下全圖》等地圖均將南海諸島繪入中國版圖。
21. The successive Chinese governments have marked Nanhai Zhudao as Chinese territory on official maps, such as the 1755 Tian Xia Zong Yu Tu (General Map of Geography of the All-under-heaven) of the Huang Qing Ge Zhi Sheng Fen Tu (Map of the Provinces Directly under the Imperial Qing Authority), the 1767 Da Qing Wan Nian Yi Tong Tian Xia Tu (Map of the Eternally Unified All-under-heaven of the Great Qing Empire), the 1810 Da Qing Wan Nian Yi Tong Di Li Quan Tu (Map of the Eternally Unified Great Qing Empire) and the 1817 Da Qing Yi Tong Tian Xia Quan Tu (Map of the Unified All-under-heaven of the Great Qing Empire).

22. 歷史事實表明，中國人民一直將南海諸島和相關海域作為生產和生活的場所，從事各種開發利用活動。中國歷代政府也持續、和平、有效地對南海諸島實施管轄。在長期歷史過程中，中國確立了對南海諸島的主權和在南海的相關權益，中國人民早已成為南海諸島的主人。
22. Historical facts show that the Chinese people have all along taken Nanhai Zhudao and relevant waters as a ground for living and production, where they have engaged in exploration and exploitation activities in various forms. The successive Chinese governments have exercised jurisdiction over Nanhai Zhudao in a continuous, peaceful and effective manner. In the course of history, China has established sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea. The Chinese people have long been the master of Nanhai Zhudao.