在国际海洋争端中，一国主张"历史性权利"往往面临着其涵义尚未固化和国际法效力有限的困境，而历史性水域制度的编纂与逐渐发展，又彰显其权利内容和国际法效力不断演进的趋向。一国主张历史性水域并不仅仅局限于内水、领海以及特殊的海湾。海洋命运共同体理念融入历史性水域制度的国际法阐释，为诠释群岛水域作为历史性水域提供新视野和理据，同时充实和丰富了海洋命运共同体理念，进而获得国际社会认同感。作为历史性水域当代演进之洋中群岛水域，南海具有历史性水域的法律地位，应该得到国际社会的尊重。

The claim of "historical rights" in international maritime disputes faces with the dilemma in which its meaning has not been consolidated and the legal value in international law is limited. However, the codification and gradual development of the legal regime concerning historical waters shows that its content of rights and the legal effect in international law are constantly evolving. Historical waters claimed by a country are not limited to internal waters, territorial waters or special bays. That the concept of maritime community of shared future is integrated into the understanding of the legal regime concerning historical waters provides a new vision and reason for archipelagic waters as historical waters. This replenishes the concept of maritime community of shared future and helps gain international social identity. As an archipelago water, the South China Sea does have its legal status of a historical water, which should be recognized and respected by the international community.