The Vietnamese government has formally expressed its opposition to recent reclamation and construction activities conducted by China in the Paracel Islands. This diplomatic protest follows reports that China has initiated new infrastructure projects on features within the contested archipelago, which has been under Chinese control since 1974.
On August 14, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), an organization operated by the Washington-based Center of Strategic and International Studies, reported the completion of land reclamation at Antelope Reef. Satellite imagery from August 2026 suggests the early stages of a new runway on the reef, with AMTI noting that the site represents the first signs of major infrastructure on the artificial island. Subsequent reports from Reuters on August 25 highlighted the appearance of new structures on Yagong Reef, located near Antelope Reef. A spokesperson for Vantor, a commercial satellite imagery provider, indicated that these structures resemble military radar or early warning facilities seen elsewhere in the region and are likely intended to support the military functions of Antelope Reef.
During a press briefing on Friday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang reaffirmed Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago, which Hanoi refers to as Hoang Sa. She explicitly stated that Vietnam possesses the necessary historical evidence and legal grounds to assert its claims over sites it identifies as Hai Sam reef and Ba Ba island, in accordance with international law. Hang declared all foreign activities at these locations to be illegal, null, and void, adding that Vietnam has officially demanded the immediate cessation of these operations and insisted that they not be repeated.
While Vietnam maintains no physical control over the Paracels, it has recently pursued its own significant land reclamation efforts in the Spratly Islands to the south. AMTI reported in May that Vietnam had reclaimed 2,771 acres of land in the Spratlys, with construction underway for harbors, munitions storage, and communications facilities, as well as an airstrip on Barque Canada Reef. Analysts suggest that the current construction by China at Antelope and Yagong reefs may be a response to Vietnam’s expansion in the Spratlys, potentially serving as a way for Beijing to solidify its lead in island-building within the region. Whether this current equilibrium remains stable once both nations complete their respective infrastructure projects remains uncertain.
