Vietnam building fortified islands in disputed South China sea
Vietnam is building fortified islands on the disputed South China sea, and may soon surpass China’s claimed area in the region. Since the beginning of 2025, it has been dredging and adding surface area to eight features under its control in the island chain along the southeastern quarter of the sea. According to a report from Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) based on satellite imagery from MAXAR and Planetary Labs.
The Spratly Island chain comprises over 100 small islands or reefs and is claimed entirely by China, Vietnam, and Taiwan, with the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei all claiming a part of it, according to the CIA World Factbook.
The Chinese claims have been making headlines, especially as it has reclaimed land at several features by building runways and military installations to cement its claims. It is also building fortifications despite leader Xi Jinping telling US president at the time, Barack Obama in 2015, that it had no plans to do so.
It claims nearly all of the 1.2 million-square-mile sea, which sees billions of dollars in global trade passing through. This is based on the so-called Nine Dash Line, ruled by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague as having no legal basis.
Vietnam has not been as outspoken as China and its efforts in claiming it have not been as ambitious as Beijing’s. Some of the reefs where its island-building efforts are focused have been held by just small pillboxes. New land is being constructed at three locations which were built up in previous episodes of reclamation.
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