Benjamin Blandin, Catholic University, Paris
by Jake Sanders, Editor
Vietnam is rapidly advancing its efforts to establish a network of small fortified islands and reclaimed reefs in the South China Sea, a strategy that has garnered considerable attention. French researcher Benjamin Blandin has meticulously documented these developments, providing comprehensive insights into Vietnam’s recent activities in the region. His research highlights the urgency and scale of Vietnam’s reclamation projects, which aim to enhance its territorial claims and bolster its maritime security amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea. As Vietnam races to fortify its presence, Blandin’s work serves as a crucial resource for understanding the broader geopolitical dynamics at play in this contested maritime area. Blandin will make presentations on this and other issues at the SCS Dialogue in Manila next month. : (Home – The Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea (scsdialogue.org)
Vietnam has discreetly increased its military presence in the South China Sea, employing similar tactics to China’s island-building efforts to assert its territorial claims in this disputed maritime region. Although Vietnam is not building airports on these fortified islands and reefs.
According to Blandin, Vietnam has significantly expanded its footprint in the contested Spratly Islands, with high-resolution satellite images revealing a tenfold rise in artificial land over the past three years.
Blandin highlights that Vietnam’s expansion involves the development of harbors, defensive trenches, and potentially extended runways for military purposes. These actions are reminiscent of China’s previous construction of artificial islands that feature observation towers and military infrastructure aimed at establishing regional dominance.
Blandin notes that while China has aggressively pursued its claims against the Philippines, it has not yet reacted to Vietnam’s recent activities, which are going on under the radar.
The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) reported in June 2024 that since November 2023, Vietnam has created 692 new acres across ten locations, bringing its total reclamation in the South China Sea to around 2,360 acres—roughly half of China’s 4,650 acres. AMTI points out that this rapid growth marks a significant change compared to three years ago when Vietnam had only 329 acres.
In a September 2024 report by Chatham House, researchers John Pollock and Damien Symon suggest that while Vietnam has not officially addressed these developments, its actions are likely motivated by a desire to strengthen its strategic position amid ongoing territorial disputes with China and other claimants.