7月13日,在美國國務院記者會上發生的一幕,或許讓菲律賓南海仲裁案的幕後推手——美國政府感到尷尬。在當天的記者會上,一位中國記者手持美國版地圖向美國國務院副發言人唐納發問說,「這份地圖的來源是美國政府,上面把太平島的屬性定義為'島嶼',而不是'礁石',這與南海仲裁案的'裁決'結果不同。我想要知道這個地圖是否代表美國政府立場?」 面對這一情境,唐納在回答中用「恩……呃……」還有「笑聲」加以掩飾。那 麼,在記者會現場,美國國務院副發言人唐納到底是如何寫出一個大大的「囧」字,請看當天的記者會問答實錄: QUESTION: Just real quickly. National University of Singapore, they released this map on their website, and together with gazetteer. So one map here, it says the source is from United States Government. And it says here on those land features – Taiping Island, controlled by Taiwan – the feature of – this island is island instead of rock as -- 中國記者:新加坡國立大學國際法中心在網站上刊登了地圖和地名辭典。其中一份地圖,它的來源是美國政府。而且,這張地圖寫的是太平島,而不是太平「礁」。 MR TONER: Sure. 發言人:恩。 QUESTION: -- not – different from what the ruling says. I wonder if this represent the United States Government view. 中國記者:這跟南海仲裁案「裁決」結果不相符。 (美國政府在這張地圖上把太平島定性為島嶼,而不是礁石。)我想要知道這個地圖是否代表美國政府立場? 中國記者持美官方地圖質問：這裡標註的是太平島可不是太平「礁」 MR TONER: Can I – what map is it? I'm sorry. 發言人:我能……不好意思,那是啥地圖? QUESTION: So this map released on the website of National University of Singapore but it says the source is from the United States Government. 發言人:這是新加坡國立大學網站的一張地圖,(但人家說得很清楚,)這張地圖來源是美國政府。 MR TONER: Hold it up, please. I』m going to hold you to it. 發言人:請把地圖舉起來讓我看一下。 (笑 了……) QUESTION: The source – source is from the United States Government. I assume it』s from the State Department and -- 中國記者:這個來源是美國政府。我想,應當是來自美國國務院。 MR TONER: Yeah, you』re – but you』re referring to Taiping? Is that the -- 發言人:恩。你……你提到了太平……這是? QUESTION: Yes. 中國記者:是。 MR TONER: Okay. Look, the decision was quite clear in its description of what is an island and what is a rock, so I would just refer you to its legal definition. 發言人:恩……是這樣……「裁決」已經非常清楚地表述了什麼是島,呃……,什麼是礁。我只能建議你,呃……去看它的法律定義。 QUESTION: It can't be both? 中國記者:不能「二者皆是」? MR TONER: I can – (laughter). Arguably – excuse me. But -- 發言人:我……噗……可論證地……(笑了……) QUESTION: Does it really – does it quote the song? I am a rock and I am an island? 他國記者:這跟一首歌應不應景——我是一個「礁石,我是 一個「島嶼」? MR TONER: Great song, by the way, but unrelated to this discussion. (Laughter.) But – and I can give you that, but I don't need to read it to you. But look, it – basically there are – there's a very clear definition within the finding, or the court ruling, that delineates what is an island, legitimate island, and what is a rock. 發言人:(笑了……)是首好歌… …但跑題了……(繼續笑……)是這樣……島嶼跟礁石的有著很清楚的定義……我能把這定義給你,但我不能在這讀給你聽哈……(說這句 話的時候伴著間歇的笑……) QUESTION: Yeah, but the question is: Does the US Government – do you have your official definition of the land features in South China Sea? Because what if the ruling, it's contradict to what you find if it's island or rock? 中國記者:是。但我的問題是,美國有沒有對南海島礁屬性的官方定義?萬一你們的定義可能與裁決結果相矛盾呢? MR TONER: We' re not at this point in time going to challenge the definition that they've put in there legally at this point. 發言人:目前我們……呃……呃……不會……呃……去挑戰裁決作出的合法定義。雖然南海臨時仲裁庭「裁決」將太平島定義為礁,但公開資料顯示,美國政府發布的南海地圖中明確將太平島定義為「島嶼」。華盛頓智庫戰略與國際問題研究中心等多家研究機構刊登分析文章指出,太平島確實是島,並非礁石。 2010年1月美國政府發布了南海地圖與地理描述,明確把太平島以及附屬島嶼標記為島,並註明了島嶼的經緯度。可面對常設仲裁法院7月12號違背常理的裁決,美國國務院發言人卻並不願意反駁。
