Vietnam challenges China by building artificial military islands in South China Sea

An ongoing fight over disputed islands in the South China Sea is heating up as several nations jostle for supremacy in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Spratly Islands are an archipelago made up of tiny islands and reefs that stretch out over hundreds of square miles - all in strategic shipping lanes.

Their locations means that the islands - which contain less than 500 acres of actual land - have been claimed by China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Brunei.

Satallite imagery has revealed that Vietnam has started to create artifical islands fitted out with military equipment, such as missile systems or aircraft.

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies' Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative claims Vietnam has developed eight human-made landmasses in the Spratlys since the turn of the year, with the work being linked to extensive damage to the region's coral reef and wildlife.

In 2023, the 'Deep Blue Scars: Environmental Threats to the South China Sea' study accused China of the partial or full destruction of more than 21,000 acres of coral reef through its land reclamation project, which the nation's Philippines embassy labelled "neither factual nor verifiable".

Rival Vietnam's actions have seen dredging and landfill across multiple reef sites, including Alison, Collins, East, Petley and Lansdowne reefs, with further expansions snapped by satellites over Amboyna Cay, Grierson Reef and West Reef.

Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative's (AMTI) report claims each expanded site is housing munitions storage facilities, as well as six buildings surrounding a central courtyard.

The report said: "The location of these new structures and the munitions depots seem to preclude the possibility of full-length runways being built on some of the longer features like Ladd, Pearson, Tennent, or South Reef as many had speculated."

Each contesting country vying for the archipelago has criticised the others for their measures, with China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson recently scolding Vietnam for its latest attempts.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said: "The Nansha (Spratly) Islands are China's inherent territory, and China firmly opposes the construction activities of the countries concerned on the illegally occupied islands and reefs and will take necessary measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights."

Beijing often uses its Spratly Islands bases as launch points for coast guard patrols, which often encroach into neighbouring sea borders, as it continues to test the patience of the US, which has a large military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, by using grey-zone tactics.

AMTI has previously stated that Vietnam could also carry out similar patrols by constructing ports in the area, giving them "the same logistical advantage that China has used to maintain year-round patrols in the Spratlys."