Keynote Speech by Admiral Wu Shengli at the Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of China’s Recover
中央军委委员、中国人民解放军海军司令员吴胜利在中国收复西沙群岛70周年纪念活动上的主旨发言（中英对照版）
在中国收复西南沙群岛70周年纪念活动上的主旨发言
Keynote Speech at the Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of China’s Recovery of the Xisha and Nansha Islands
中央军委委员、中国人民解放军海军司令员 吴胜利
Wu Shengli, Member of the Central Military Commission, Commander of Chinese PLA Navy
2016年12月8日
December 8, 2016
女士们、先生们，同志们、朋友们：
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Comrades and Friends,
今天我们举行中国收复西南沙群岛70周年纪念活动，共同铭记历史、启迪现实，珍惜和平、展望未来。
Today, we get together at the Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of China’s Recovery of the Xisha and Nansha Islands to review the history, enlighten the present, cherish peace, and look forward into the future.
世界反法西斯战争和中国人民抗日战争取得伟大胜利后，根据《开罗宣言》和《波茨坦公告》，1946年11-12月，中国派出“太平”“永兴”“中建”“中业”4艘军舰，在指挥官林遵海军上校的率领下，与政府接收专员和相关专业人员，收复了被日本军国主义侵占的西南沙群岛并隆重举行仪式，向全世界庄严宣告，中国对西南沙群岛恢复行使主权。这一重大历史事件，世界共同见证，国人永远铭记。在这里，我代表中国人民解放军海军全体官兵，向为收复西南沙群岛做出重大历史贡献的民族先辈表示崇高敬意！向长期以来尊重中国政府主张、致力维护南海和平发展的国内外友人表示衷心感谢！向与会的各位来宾表示热烈欢迎！
After the great victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, in accordance with the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, from November to December 1946, China dispatched four warships, Taiping, Yongxing, Zhongjian and Zhongye, under the command of Capt. Lin Zun, with government representatives and specialists on board, recovered the Xisha and Nansha Islands, which had been invaded by Japanese militarists, and held a solemn ceremony to proclaim that China resumed sovereignty over the Xisha and Nansha Islands. This event of great historical significance was witnessed by the whole world and remembered by the Chinese people forever. Here, on behalf of all the officers and sailors of the PLA Navy, I would like to pay high tribute to our nation’s forerunners who have made great historical contributions to the recovery of the Xisha and Nansha Islands, express our heartfelt gratitude to friends at home and overseas who always respect the claims of the Chinese government and concentrate their efforts on the peaceful development in the South China Sea, and extend our warm welcome to all the guests attending the commemoration.
收复西南沙群岛是中国对固有领土的有效规复。西南沙群岛自古以来就是中国领土。早在公元前2世纪的汉代，中国人民就凭借先进的造船和航海技术在南海航行，发现并命名了西沙、南沙群岛。公元4-8世纪的隋唐时期，中国人民在西南沙群岛捕鱼采贝，大量历史古籍详细记载了南海岛礁的地貌特征，生动描述了他们的生产生活，考古也发现了他们的居住遗址和生活用具。1000多年前的宋代，中国就对西南沙群岛设吏管辖，派遣水师巡视南海。600多年前的明代，中国将西南沙群岛划归广东省琼州府管辖，海南渔民世代相传的《更路簿》，记录了他们在西南沙群岛盖房建庙、挖井汲水、垦荒种植、耕海牧渔。1868年英国海军部出版的《中国海指南》，也细致描述了中国海南渔民在南沙群岛的生产生活情况。直至清末的1909年，广东水师提督李准还率舰巡海登岛。历史表明，中国开发利用和管辖西南沙群岛的脉络清晰、铁证如山，主权归属无可争辩、毋庸置疑。
The recovery of the Xisha and Nansha Islands is the effective restoration of China’s inherent territory. The Xisha and Nansha Islands have been China’s territory since ancient times. As early as in Han Dynasty, in the 2nd century B.C., depending on advanced shipbuilding and navigation technologies, Chinese people sailed in the South China Sea, discovered and named the Xisha and Nansha Islands. In Sui Dynasty and Tang Dynasty, from the 4th century to the 8th century A.D., the Chinese people went fishing around the Xisha and Nansha Islands. Large amount of historical documents record in details the topographical features of the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, and have vivid description of these people’s production and living. Archaeological studies also have discovered inhabiting relics and living tools of them. In Song Dynasty, more than 1000 years ago, China already established administration on the Xisha and Nansha Islands, sent officials to perform administrative duty, and dispatched naval ships to patrol the South China Sea. In Ming Dynasty, more than 600 years ago, China authorized Qiongzhou of Guangdong province to administrate the Xisha and Nansha Islands. The Geng Lu Bu (The Manual of Sea Routes), passed on by Chinese fishermen from generation to generation, records their activities on the Xisha and Nansha Islands, such as building houses and temples, digging wells, farming and fishing. The China Sea Directory, published by the British Admiralty in 1868 depicts in details the production and living of Chinese fishermen on Nansha Islands. Even in 1909 of late Qing Dynasty, Li Zhun, the Commander of the Guangdong Fleet, led naval vessels to patrol the sea and land the islands. The historical records give hard evidence of China’s development and administration of the Xisha and Nansha Islands, and China’s sovereignty over these islands is indisputable.
收复西南沙群岛是中国反侵略战争胜利的重要成果。近代中国积贫积弱、任人宰割。据统计，鸦片战争后的100多年间，列强先后从海上入侵多达480余次，规模较大的就有84次。国家有海无防，人民生灵涂炭，民族危在旦夕。在西南沙，1933年法国制造了“九小岛事件”占我岛礁（南沙太平、南威、中业、鸿麻、南钥、南子、北子、西月岛和安波沙洲）；日本发动全面侵华战争后，于1939年3月相继侵占了西南沙部分岛屿。至今，西沙珊瑚岛、永兴岛上仍存有法、日非法侵占时期修建的炮楼和房屋。收复西南沙群岛，既是捍卫中华民族尊严、行使国家领土主权的胜利之举，也是维护正义、保卫和平的胜利之举；既是中国反侵略战争胜利的重要成果，也是世界反法西斯战争胜利的重要成果。自古以来，和平稳定就是人类的美好夙愿和共同追求。他人之财不可取、别国之地不可占，任何侵略行径必定失败。中国政府、人民和军队有决心有能力捍卫国家主权安全，维护南海和平稳定。
The recovery of the Xisha and Nansha Islands is the major achievement during the anti-aggression war in China. China in modern history, as poor and weak, was bullied by big powers. Statistics show that, for over 100 years after the Opium War, the big powers had invaded China from the sea for more than 480 times, 84 of which were in large scale. As China lacked effective maritime defense, these invasions wreaked havoc on Chinese people and left the nation at stake. In 1933, France plotted the “Nine Isles Incident” and plundered these isles. Then Japan launched the full-scale invasion of China and illegally seized some of the Xisha and Nansha Islands successively in March, 1939. Till now, on the Shanhu Island and Yongxing Island still stand blockhouses and buildings of the French and Japanese invaders. The recovery of the Xisha and Nansha Islands is a victorious act of China to defend national dignity, exercise territorial sovereignty, and uphold justice and peace. It is the major achievement of the victory of China’s Anti-Aggression War and the World Anti-Fascist War. Since ancient times, peace and stability have been the long-cherished wish and common goal of mankind. The wealth of others should not be coveted and the territory of other country should not be occupied. Any aggression is doomed to fail. The Chinese government, the Chinese people and the PLA are determined and capable to safeguard the national sovereignty and security and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.
收复西南沙群岛是中国对战后国际秩序的坚定维护。《开罗宣言》《波茨坦公告》和《联合国宪章》，是战后国际秩序的基石，是维护和平正义的准则。1943年12月中、美、英三国发表的《开罗宣言》，明确要求日本必须将所窃取的一切中国领土归还中国。1945年7月中、美、英三国发表的《波茨坦公告》，明确提出开罗宣言之条件必须实施。1945年9月2日在美国“密苏里”号战列舰上，日本签署了《无条件投降书》。随后，中国在南京接受了侵华日军投降，在海南岛接受了侵占西南沙群岛的日军投降。这些都是中国按照战后秩序收复西南沙群岛主权的直接证据。战后国际秩序是世界反法西斯力量共同构建的，是国际公平正义的体现、人类文明进步的象征。抚今追昔，任何国际组织、任何国家政府、任何人都有责任、有义务维护好战后国际秩序，这也是对人类社会和平发展的最大坚守。
The recovery of the Xisha and Nansha Islands is China’s firm maintenance of the postwar international order. The Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the UN Charter are the cornerstone of the postwar international order and the principles for maintaining peace and justice. The Cairo Declaration, issued by China, the United States, and the United Kingdom in December 1943, clearly demanded Japan to return all the territory illegally seized from China. The Potsdam Proclamation, issued by China, the United States, and the United Kingdom, prescribed that the terms of the Cairo Declaration must be implemented. On September 2, 1945, Japan signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender onboard USS Missouri. Thereafter, China accepted the surrender of Japanese invasion forces in Nanjing, and the surrender of Japanese forces occupying the Xisha and Nansha Islands on Hainan Island. These are all direct proof of China’s resumption of sovereignty over the Xisha and Nansha Islands by following the postwar order. The postwar international order was jointly established by the world anti-fascist forces, which demonstrated international justice and represented progress of human civilization. Whether in the past or at present, any international organization, government, or people, is obliged and responsible to maintain the postwar international order. It is also the utmost effort to safeguard the peace and development of human community.
收复西南沙群岛是中国捍卫南海主权权益的国家宣示。中国收复西南沙群岛后，随即派兵驻守、设立管理机构、开展护渔护航，实施岛礁精准测量和重新命名，在中国官方标准地图上标注岛礁位置，同步划设南海断续线，通过政府文告向全世界公布。这些都是中国宣示主权、行使管辖的具体体现，得到了国际社会的广泛承认，并体现在多国政府发表的相关文献和出版物中。国家权利根植于国家实践，在国家宣示中不断确认和巩固。中国收复西南沙群岛后采取的一系列行动和举措，构成了中国南海领土主权和海洋权益的坚实法理基础，必须得到切实尊重和有效维护。
The recovery of Xisha and Nansha Islands is China’s national declaration of safeguarding the sovereign rights and interests in the South China Sea. Soon after the recovery of Xisha and Nansha Islands, China sent troops to the islands, established administrative organizations, and started fishery and convoy protection. China also conducted precise survey and renaming of the islands and reefs, marked their locations on officially issued standard maps, meanwhile drew the dotted line in the South China Sea, and promulgated them through government documents to the whole world. These were the specific measures of China to claim sovereignty and exercise jurisdiction, which was widely recognized by the international community and can be found in relevant government documents and publications of multiple countries. National rights are rooted in national practice, and are constantly reaffirmed and reinforced through national declaration. The actions and measures taken by China after the recovery of the Xisha and Nansha Islands have laid a solid nomological foundation for her territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, which must be respected and safeguarded effectively.