18-11-2023 (HANOI) Vietnam has increased its dredging and landfill activities in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, adding another 134 hectares of land since December 2022, according to a report by the United States think-tank, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
This expansion surpasses the 49 hectares created by Vietnam between 2012 and 2022, placing the country second only to China in terms of island build-up in the contested Spratly Islands. The report, based on satellite imagery, highlights Vietnam’s intensified efforts in an area where China also claims sovereignty.
The South China Sea is a hotly contested region through which over $3 trillion of trade passes annually. China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam have conflicting claims over parts or the entirety of the Spratly Islands.
The recent expansion by Vietnam is particularly evident at Barque Canada Reef, known as Bai Thuyen Chai in Vietnam, where 85 hectares of land were created in the past year, according to the CSIS report. The think-tank notes that Vietnam has employed cutter suction dredgers to accelerate its dredging efforts, with additional activities observed at South Reef and Central Reef in October.
While Vietnam’s focus has been on dredging and landfill, the construction of infrastructure is yet to commence, according to the report. In comparison, China created over 1,295 hectares of land in the area from 2013 to 2016.
The contested region has been a source of tension, with multiple nations rejecting China’s claims to sovereignty in the South China Sea. In August, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam rejected a map released by China outlining its territorial claims in the area.
