China isn’t a lone wolf when it comes to constructing fake islands in the South China Sea. In a new report, Vietnam appears to be joining the party.
Images of the Spratly Islands reveal Vietnam has dumped more than 120 acres of fresh land onto smaller islands in the past two years. Islands that originally appeared to be patches of sand in the South China Sea now resemble small cities, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.
Vietnam’s movement is raising U.S. official’s suspicion, but is nevertheless trivial compared to China’s actions. According to Gregory Poling, the director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, “Vietnam has very limited docking facilities, housing, and other infrastructure … while China is constructing significant capabilities.”
Poling went on to point out that China’s man-made islands can accommodate heavy cargo and advanced fighter jets.
China has pumped nearly 3,000 acres of excavated land onto seven different locations in the Spratly Islands, according to the most recent analysis. Even so, China continues to use Vietnam as an excuse to island build while simultaneously reclaiming 25 times more land.
On Sunday, President Obama will arrive in Hanoi amid rising tensions in the Pacific over the disputed Spratly Islands.
CSIS posted before-and-after images here.
