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Dredging and land reclamation are dramatically transforming the landscape of the Spratly Islands in the <a href="https://time.news/a-us-shoulder-would-isolate-china/" title=""A US shoulder would isolate China"”>South China Sea, escalating a territorial dispute between China and Vietnam over the disputed cluster of islands, islets, reefs, and atolls known as the Spratlys.
In response to China’s increasing territorial claims, Vietnam has embarked on a feverish land-grab, creating over 1,000 acres of new land in the South China Sea this year alone, more than in any previous year. Satellite images and interviews with officials, security analysts, and diplomats confirm this expansionist effort.
Hanoi has been steadily expanding its presence in the Spratlys since 2021.
Meanwhile, China has been steadily developing the islets over the past decade, transforming them into advanced military bases. In just three years, Vietnam’s presence in the Spratlys has increased tenfold.
Tensions Rise in the South China Sea
Despite acknowledging their expansionist activities in private, Vietnamese government officials refuse to comment on the issue. However, several current and former Vietnamese officials revealed that the government is constructing advanced outposts in the Spratlys as a defensive measure against potential threats.
“We will take all necessary measures to protect our legitimate interests in the East Sea,” declared Le Dinh Tinh, the general director of policy planning at Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, using the Vietnamese name for the South China Sea.
Tinh emphasized Vietnam’s desire for a peaceful resolution to maritime disputes but expressed concern over the recent escalation in tensions in the South China Sea, particularly between China and the Philippines, which have clashed over a reef within the Spratlys.
Resource-Rich Region
China has long sought to dominate the South China Sea, a strategically important maritime area rich in resources claimed by six other governments.
US Involvement Concerns
Recent months have seen Chinese vessels repeatedly harassing Philippine ships in the disputed waters, raising concerns that the United States, which has a mutual defense treaty with Manila, could be drawn into an armed conflict.
Following a similar incident in 2013-2015, China established military bases in the Spratlys, equipped with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, radar, and military aircraft.
Vietnam’s Expanding Outposts
In response to China’s land reclamation and militarization, Vietnam has fortified its outposts in the Spratlys through land reclamation, barrier reinforcement, and new facility construction. The most dramatic transformation occurred at Barque Canada Reef, which has doubled in size due to ongoing construction work.
Standoff and Protests
In 2014, China’s deployment of an oil drilling platform 120 miles from the Vietnamese mainland sparked a standoff, leading to clashes between Chinese and Vietnamese vessels. Vietnamese ships were allegedly targeted with “water bombs,” resulting in at least one vessel sinking. This incident sparked widespread anti-Chinese protests and riots in Vietnam, with businesses owned by Chinese individuals targeted.
Recent months have seen regular skirmishes at sea between Vietnam and China, though most incidents remain undisclosed by both countries.
Chinese vessels continue to enter Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, according to tracking data monitored by research groups like the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative and the South China Sea Chronicle Initiative.