纵观中菲南沙群岛争端的历史演进和现状，中菲南沙群岛争端的产生、变化、未来发展趋势始终与“美国因素”密切相关。在冷战的国际背景下，单方面对日媾和的《旧金山对日和约》为南沙群岛争端埋下了伏笔。从这个意义上看，美国是中菲南沙群岛争端的始作俑者之一。冷战期间，美国在南沙群岛地位问题上保持“中立”，并对菲律宾的求援予以模糊承诺。冷战结束后，美国成为影响南沙群岛问题最重要的外部力量。美国政府在南沙群岛主权归属上逐渐放弃“中立”的立场，转而积极“小心介入”南沙群岛问题。美国将介入中菲南沙群岛争端作为美菲联手遏制中国的一种战略尝试，势必会助长菲律宾阴谋攫取南沙群岛的野心，对中菲关系乃至亚太地区的稳定产生一定的消极影响，对于中菲未来解决南沙群岛争端也将增加一定的难度。
    注释：
    ①囿于档案文献所限，目前学界尚未对20世纪70年代美国对中菲南沙争端政策进行专题研究。相关著述散见于冷战结束后美国介入南沙群岛事务的研究中，如邱丹阳：《中菲南沙争端中的美国因素》，《当代亚太》2002年第5期；汪爱平：《美国南海政策的演变及其影响研究》，《广西师范大学学报(哲学社会科学版)》2012年第2期，等等。
    ②礼乐滩位于北纬11度20分，东经116度50分，属于中国南沙群岛。
    原文参考文献：
    [1]《国际条约集(1950～1952)》，世界知识出版社1959年版，第335页。
    [2]Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines,August 30,1951,American Foreign Policy 1950～1955,Basic Documents Volumes I and II,Department of State Publication 6446,Genend Foreign Policy Series 117,Washington,DC:U.S.Government Printing Office,1957,http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/phil001.asp.
    [3]《我国领土南沙群岛不容侵犯 菲律宾当局公然派兵占领我南沙群岛的中业岛等岛屿 西贡傀儡集团也妄图浑水摸鱼，侵占我国领土》，《人民日报》1971年7月17日，第5版；Aileen S.P.Baviera,"The Philippines Looks to the South China Sea:Ocean of Opportunity or Sea of Strife"? China Currents,Vol.3,No.1,January-March 1992,p.18.
    [4]FRUS,1969～1976,Volume XVIII,China,1973～1976,Telegram 998,From the Embassy in the Philippines to the Department of State,January 26,1974,Document 325,http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve12/ch9.
    [5]FRUS,1969～1976,Volume E-12,Documents on East and Southeast Asia,1973～1976,Telegram 020401,From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Philippines,January 31,1974,Document 326,http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve12/ch9.
    [6]National Archives,RG 59,Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger's Staff Meetings,1973～1977,E5177,Box 2.
    [7]Ford Library,National Security Adviser,Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific,Box 15,Philippines.
    [8]FRUS,1969～1976,Volume E-12,Documents on East and Southeast Asia,Memorandum From Thomas J.Barnes of the National Security Council Staff to the President's Assistant for National Security Affairs(Scowcroft),August 6,1976,Document 349,http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve12/ch9.
    [9]Ford Library,National Security Adviser,NSC Staff for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Convenience File,Box 31,Next Steps in the Philippine Base Negotiations.
    [10]Ford Library,NSSM 235,U.S.Interests and Objectives in the Asia-Pacific Region,NSC Institutional Files(H-Files),Box H-40.
    [11]FRUS,1969～1976,Volume E-12,Documents on East and Southeast Asia,Memorandum From the President's Assistant for National Security Affairs(Scowcroft) to President Ford,Washington,Document 353,http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve12/ch9.
    [12]FRUS,1969～1976,Volume E-12,Telegram 250861,From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Philippines,October 8,1976,Document 354,http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve12/ch9.