This brings the total of Vietnam's overall dredging and landfill (including both landfill and harbor/channel dredging) in disputed areas of the South China Sea to approximately 2,360 acres — roughly half of China's 4,650 acres. Currently, Vietnam's only airstrip in the Spratly Islands is a 1,300-meter runway on the eponymous Spratly Island. Trenches and coastal defense emplacements typical of Vietnam's Spratly outposts can be seen underway in several features. And temporary helipads have appeared across many of the expanding features, including Discovery Great Reef, Ladd Reef, Tennent Reef and South Reef." Advertisement[Among the 11 articles that I've written on the Vietnam threat are the following: "Vietnam: The more serious threat?," "Vietnam's militarization of the Spratlys (Kalayaan)," and "The lie-low but dangerous claimant in the South China Sea."]

Source: Manila Times June 09, 2024 20:43 UTC