Under the surging waves of the South China Sea, a land dispute without smoke is quietly taking place. Vietnam's current pace and scale of land reclamation are unprecedented, gradually changing the geopolitical situation in the South China Sea.

A recent report by the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies shows that Vietnam's land reclamation project in the Nansha Islands is rapidly advancing. As of March 2025, the area of artificial islands and reefs in the Nansha Islands built by Vietnam has reached about 70% of the area reclaimed by China. Since the beginning of 2025, Vietnam has expanded its land reclamation projects to eight new reef areas, including Liumen Reef, Ghost Cry Reef, East Reef, Lancesang Reef, and Bo Lan Reef. This way, all 21 artificial islands and reefs occupied illegally by Vietnam in the Nansha Islands have been artificially expanded.

Look at it now, going back four years, that is, in 2021, most of the islands and reefs occupied by Vietnam in the Nansha Islands were just isolated forts, looking quite thin. Who could have thought that now these reefs have all changed, becoming artificial islands with various facilities on them, even arranging storage boxes for ammunition.

Looking at the satellite images, it is clearly visible that the few reefs illegally occupied by Vietnam have basically completed the dredging work. Vietnam has built an airstrip on the Bai Island, which is about 3,200 meters long, and also built one on the Biseng Island, approximately 2,500 meters long.

These airstrips can be used by Vietnam's military aircraft for takeoff and landing, thus greatly enhancing the military functions of the islands and reefs. Through sand filling, Vietnam has connected originally insignificant small islands and reefs, making them into long-term military bases in the South China Sea.

The illegal occupation and reclamation of the Nansha Islands by Vietnam actually began on October 5, 2021. However, Vietnam's land reclamation projects in the South China Sea have a longer history, dating back to the 1970s.

In recent years, Vietnam has begun to carry out various land reclamation projects frenetically. By May 2025, Vietnam had illegally occupied dozens of square kilometers of land.

On 11 relatively important islands such as Bai Island and Biseng Island, Vietnam has illegally carried out sand filling to expand the land area, which has exceeded 8.5 square kilometers. Hongxiu Island was previously just a small island with an area of only 0.08 square kilometers. After being filled, its area suddenly expanded ten times, reaching 0.83 square kilometers.

Why is Vietnam so busy with sand filling and occupying the Nansha Islands? Simply put, it is because of the oil, natural gas, and rich fishery resources in the South China Sea, wanting to claim them. Moreover, it also wants to deploy more military forces in the South China Sea, so that in future military operations in the South China Sea, it can be more smooth and effective.

Vietnam's tough stance on the South China Sea issue is actually to incite nationalistic sentiments among its domestic people, gaining their support. Moreover, it also wants to gain sympathy and support internationally, so that it can secure more favorable conditions and strategic advantages when discussing the South China Sea issue in the future.

Vietnam and the Philippines have formed some kind of understanding and cooperation on the South China Sea issue. In recent years, the two countries have often taken turns holding exchanges and activities on their illegally occupied North Zhi Island and South Zhi Island.

On June 21, 2012, the Vietnamese National Assembly passed the "Vietnamese Maritime Law" without informing China or getting its consent, and arbitrarily included China's Xisha Islands and Nansha Islands within its so-called "sovereignty" range. This law came into effect on January 1, 2013.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry immediately responded, stating that the provisions in the "Vietnamese Maritime Law" concerning the Xisha and Nansha Islands are illegal and invalid. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Xisha Islands, Nansha Islands, and their adjacent waters. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the negative impact that this law would bring to the South China Sea situation, and urged Vietnam not to take any actions that would complicate or escalate the issue.

Facing Vietnam's land reclamation behavior, the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources has monitored the construction progress of Vietnamese islands and reefs using images captured by commercial satellites. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has also officially responded, warning Vietnam to stop its improper behavior as soon as possible.

Vietnam's land reclamation efforts in the South China Sea continue, with a scale and speed that can be described as reckless, possibly becoming another focus of conflict. If Vietnam continues to ignore China's warnings, it may end up doing the work for others.



Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7543529108681015827/

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