South China Sea Tensions: Vietnam Builds On Disputed Islands Where China Has Military Infrastructure

Taking a leaf out of China's playbook, Vietnam has begun building infrastructure on three islands under its administration in the South China Sea. Satellite images show work being carried out on Pearson Reef, Namyit Island and Sand Cay, all on the disputed Spratly Islands.

The images from Planet Labs, a San Fransico-based earth imaging company, show Hanoi building what appears to be a large two-section marina or harbor on Pearson Reef, reports Radio Free Asia.

Vietnam has occupied the reef since 1978 and has previously reclaimed about six acres of land there in 2014. While Vietnam administers 21 features on the Spratly Islands, including Pearson, China occupies seven. This includes militarised islands like Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief, and Subi reefs.

However, the work on Pearson Reef gained pace over the last year. Compared to the images taken in 2020, those from last month show a sudden spurt in development at the northern part of the reef.

The satellite images taken in October showed a barge pulled up and what looks like plumes of sediment in the water. Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, told RFA that it is "likely that they brought sand and backhoes in and are piling it on that southern edge of the island to expand it."

As for Namyit and Sand Cay, authorities seem to be building ship docks to improve access and provide shelter to boats.

However, Vietnamese analysts have maintained that the work is to "prevent erosion and landslides" and "not to expand or change the island features."

Lt. Col. Luu Van Nhiem, a senior official at the Naval squadron 11, First Regional Coast Guard, recently told local media that the country was seeking to civilianize islands in the South China Sea to promote economic development and to protect sovereignty.

Though the Vietnam government has not officially commented on the work, the country reportedly began reclamation work on islands under its administration much before 2014.

Satellite images taken in 2015 had shown an expansion of the land area of Sand Cay and West London Reef in the Spratly archipelago and the addition of buildings. The work included military installations and appeared to have started before China began a flurry of reclamation projects in 2014.

Though Hanoi's island reclamation bid was then condemned by Beijing, it later outpaced Vietnam by reclaiming almost 3,000 acres. Figures say Vietnam has only reclaimed over 120 acres of new land on the Spratlys.

The countries also share a tumultuous past after Chinese forces opened fire on Vietnamese soldiers in 1988 in the South China Sea over Vietnam's bid to reclaim Johnson Reef. The incident happened when the Vietnamese Navy’s Brigade 125 sent three ships carrying nearly 100 officers and soldiers to Johnson Reef. The soldiers were transporting construction materials when four Chinese vessels arrived. A battle ensued, which ended bitterly for Vietnam. Since then, Johnson Reef has been occupied by China.