多年來,台灣的南海政策走向固定而少創意與積極性作為,固然是受到內外政治環境的約束所致;但是政策上不作為的主要原因係因本身國家安全定位不明確,缺乏清晰積極的政策目標,而產生建構南海政策走向的一貫惰性與混淆性。 本文主要目的在透過以綜合性安全為基礎所建構的國家安全,並以海事安全主導南海政策發展,主張朝向定位「動態的」南海政策才是符合台灣最大國家利益。海事安全的內涵係包括保障航運安全性、控制海洋環境汙染、促進合作性海事科學研究、和建立資源管理典則等等。而海事合作議題具有區域性特質,已在歷屆南海對話機制中普遍受到重視,因此增加台灣推動南海積極作為,建構海事安全政策為理性基礎的需求。
Taiwan's South China Sea policy has never sufficiently reflected the region's importance to Taiwan. The inertia of the island's South China Sea policy is mainly attributed to a dubious approach to national security. Based on the concept of comprehensive security, this paper argues that in order to formulate a new South China Sea policy, Taiwan will have to redefine its current understanding of national security. Maritime security as part of the overall concept of comprehensive security can be defined more clearly in order to constract a more sound policy. Through maritime cooperation measures-including shipping safety, the control of maritime pollution, joint scientific research, and resource management-Taiwan can use its full capability to support cooperative regimes and thus contribute to the development of regional cooperation. This cooperative approach is what will best serve the best interests of Taiwan and regional countries.