中國海上民兵於國際海上武裝衝突法中之法地位─以海軍輔助艦為定性核心

Abstract

近年來，中國透過海上民兵在周邊海域執行具軍事性質之行動，已成為灰色地帶衝突中極具代表性的作戰模式。此類船舶多以民用漁船之外觀活動，卻在實際上承擔偵察、監視、運輸或協同行動等任務，模糊了軍民之界線，也對既有國際海上武裝衝突法所建立的分類體系構成挑戰。尤其在臺海安全情境下，若此類平台於武裝衝突中出現，其法律地位、可否成為攻擊目標，以及其上人員應適用之人道法規範，皆將直接影響交戰行為的合法性判斷。 本文討論國際海上武裝衝突法（海戰法）之核心思想與制度邏輯，並以「以艦為本的規則例外主義」作為理論基礎，重新檢視中國海上民兵船與人員於國際武裝衝突發生時之法律定性。海戰法雖為人道法體系之一環，但在許多面向上自成體系，其目標選定、攻擊合法性、積極抵抗權之行使與戰俘地位之判斷，係以海上平台之性質為定性中心，而非以個別人員行為為主要判準。此一平台導向之設計，源於海戰法對軍事必要性與人道性之平衡，並構成其有別於陸戰法之重要制度特色。 本文即以中國海上民兵作為問題意識與案例，探討在現行海戰法體系下，如何透過以艦為本之分析方法，理解此類船舶與人員於武裝衝突中的法律定位，並說明海戰法現行規範於此類行動情境中之適用與限制。

In recent years, China’s use of maritime militia to conduct operations of a military nature in surrounding waters has become a highly representative operational model in grey-zone conflicts. These vessels typically operate under the outward appearance of civilian fishing boats, yet in practice undertake tasks such as reconnaissance, surveillance, transportation, and coordinated operations. This practice blurs the distinction between civilian and military objects and poses significant challenges to the classification framework established under the existing law of naval armed conflict. In particular, in the context of cross-Strait security, should such platforms appear during an armed conflict, their legal status, their susceptibility to attack, and the international humanitarian law applicable to the personnel on board would directly affect the assessment of the lawfulness of hostilities. This thesis examines the core principles and institutional logic of the international law of armed conflict at sea (the law of naval warfare) and, drawing upon the theory of “vessel-based rule exceptionalism,” reassesses the legal classification of Chinese maritime militia vessels and personnel in the event of an international armed conflict. Although the law of naval warfare forms part of the broader system of international humanitarian law, it constitutes a largely autonomous legal regime in many respects. The determination of lawful targets, the legality of attacks, the exercise of the right of active resistance, and the assessment of prisoner-of-war status are all centered on the nature of the maritime platform, rather than primarily on the conduct of individual persons. This platform-oriented design reflects the law of naval warfare’s balancing of military necessity and humanity and constitutes a key institutional feature distinguishing it from the law of land warfare. Using China’s maritime militia as the primary case study, this thesis explores how, within the existing framework of the law of naval warfare, a vessel-based analytical approach may be employed to understand the legal status of such vessels and personnel in armed conflict, and to clarify the applicability and limitations of current naval warfare norms in relation to such operational contexts.