Vietnam Accelerates Land Reclamation in Spratly Islands

Over the past year, Vietnam has ramped up its land reclamation efforts in the Spratly Islands, expanding its military bases at a rapid pace compared to other claimants in the region. According to a recent paper released by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Vietnam has made significant progress, particularly at its largest facility on Barque Canada Reef.

The paper, published in the Journal of Tropical Oceanography, details a method that combines data from American and European satellites to accurately map out the depth of a newly dug ship channel at Barque Canada Reef. By utilizing NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite with laser sensing capabilities and high-resolution optical imaging from the EU’s Sentinel satellite constellation, researchers were able to measure the channel’s depth with precision without the need for on-site surveying.

The study revealed that the channel is deep enough to accommodate warships as large as the PLA Navy’s Type 055 destroyers, which draw about 22 feet of water. This development signifies Vietnam’s strategic military expansion in the region, with nearly 500 acres added to Barque Canada Reef in just two years.

Coauthor Fu Dongyang noted that these changes have significantly altered the reef’s topography, providing Vietnam with additional space for potential military uses. With approximately 16,000 acres of natural coral flats on the shoal, there is ample room for further development, similar to what China has done on neighboring reefs like Mischief Reef and Fiery Cross Reef.

The Spratly Islands remain a hotspot for territorial disputes, with multiple countries claiming ownership over various parts of the archipelago. Vietnam’s expansion efforts serve as a means to bolster its security perimeter in the South China Sea, where tensions with neighboring countries, including China, continue to simmer.

In a statement to the Washington Post, Vietnamese foreign policy director Le Dinh Tinh emphasized the country’s commitment to defending its interests in the region by any means necessary. As Vietnam asserts its presence in the Spratly Islands, the geopolitical landscape in the South China Sea continues to evolve.