冲之鸟礁法律地位的国际法思考

日本认定冲之鸟礁的法律地位是“岛屿”，多年来一直企图将冲之鸟礁“岛屿化”，从而获得专属经济区和大陆架的权益。根据《联合国海洋法公约》的规定，冲之鸟礁作为岩礁的法律地位是不应当有争议的。因此，冲之鸟礁不具备岛屿的社会属性，对冲之鸟礁的人工添附也不能改变其作为岩礁的法律地位。

The Legal Status of Okinotorishima Reef in International Law

According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the legal status of the Okinotorishima reef as reefs should not be controversial. In order to obtain the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf rights, Japan has been attempting to make the Okinotorishima reef as an island over the years, this behavior is a distortion of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This article presents the basic situation of Okinotorishima reef, analyzes Japan＇ s claims over it, refutes Japan＇ s claims on the basis of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and offers solutions to the controversy over the legal status of the Okinotorishima reef.