(Washington, 24th) A U.S. think tank has pointed out that Vietnam has significantly expanded its land reclamation projects in the disputed South China Sea, with the area of newly created land in the Spratly Islands nearly matching or even surpassing that of China.
The "Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative" under the Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report on Friday (August 22) stating that recent satellite images show that since the beginning of this year, Vietnam has expanded land reclamation projects to eight reefs. These eight locations were not part of the round of reclamation that Vietnam began in 2021.
Among them, Vietnam has carried out dredging and land reclamation on Alison Reef, Collins Reef, East Reef, Landsdowne Reef, and Petley Reefs. This means that all 21 reefs and islands occupied by Vietnam in the Spratly Islands (called Nansha Islands by China, and Truong Sa archipelago by Vietnam) now have artificial land, whereas four years ago most only had bunker-type facilities.
Amboyna Cay, Grierson Reef, and West Reef, which previously had medium-sized artificial islands, have now started expansion projects.
The report states: "As of March 2025, the area of new land created by Vietnam in the Spratly Islands is about 70% of that created by China. With the expansion of reclamation projects on eight new reefs, Vietnam's scale is almost certain to catch up with or possibly surpass China."
Satellite images also show infrastructure such as ammunition depots appearing on Barque Canada Reef, Discovery Great Reef, Ladd Reef, Namyit Island, Pearson Reef, Sand Cay, and Tennent Reef as the dredging projects near completion.
The report says that the location of new buildings and ammunition depots on some elongated reefs rules out the possibility of constructing full-length airstrips, and Barque Canada Reef may be the only Vietnam-controlled reef currently building an airstrip.
The "Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative" under the Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report on Friday (August 22) stating that recent satellite images show that since the beginning of this year, Vietnam has expanded land reclamation projects to eight reefs. These eight locations were not part of the round of reclamation that Vietnam began in 2021.
Among them, Vietnam has carried out dredging and land reclamation on Alison Reef, Collins Reef, East Reef, Landsdowne Reef, and Petley Reefs. This means that all 21 reefs and islands occupied by Vietnam in the Spratly Islands (called Nansha Islands by China, and Truong Sa archipelago by Vietnam) now have artificial land, whereas four years ago most only had bunker-type facilities.
Amboyna Cay, Grierson Reef, and West Reef, which previously had medium-sized artificial islands, have now started expansion projects.
The report states: "As of March 2025, the area of new land created by Vietnam in the Spratly Islands is about 70% of that created by China. With the expansion of reclamation projects on eight new reefs, Vietnam's scale is almost certain to catch up with or possibly surpass China."
Satellite images also show infrastructure such as ammunition depots appearing on Barque Canada Reef, Discovery Great Reef, Ladd Reef, Namyit Island, Pearson Reef, Sand Cay, and Tennent Reef as the dredging projects near completion.
The report says that the location of new buildings and ammunition depots on some elongated reefs rules out the possibility of constructing full-length airstrips, and Barque Canada Reef may be the only Vietnam-controlled reef currently building an airstrip.
Vietnam currently has only one runway in the South China Sea, a 1,300-meter strip on Spratly Island, which can only accommodate combat aircraft and small transport planes. The Barque Canada Reef runway, at 3,000 meters, can accommodate large transport aircraft and reconnaissance planes once completed.
China has long claimed almost the entire South China Sea. Other countries that assert partial sovereignty claims in the South China Sea besides Vietnam include the Philippines, Brunei, and Malaysia.