Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
“Since AMTI’s last update in June 2024, Vietnam has created 641 new acres of land, continuing at the breakneck pace set between November 2023 and June 2024 when it created 692 acres. This brings Vietnam’s current total for overall dredging (including both landfill and harbor/channel dredging) in disputed areas to the South China Sea to approximately 3,319 acres, 71 percent of China’s total of 4,650 acres.”
“Prior to 2021, Vietnam only had four outposts equipped with harbors: Sin Cowe Island, Southwest Cay, Spratly Island, and West Reef. Since then, Vietnam has tripled this number by creating harbors at eight more outposts: Barque Canada Reef, Ladd Reef, Central Reef, Namyit Island, Pearson Reef, Sand Cay, South Reef, and, most recently Tennent Reef, where a new pier has been constructed amidst ongoing dredging inside the reef’s lagoon. This significant increase in port facilities will allow Vietnamese military and law enforcement to operate in greater number and for longer periods of time before returning to shore—the same logistical advantage that China has used to maintain year-round patrols in the Spratlys.”
https://amti.csis.org/scaling-up-vietnams-islands-and-harbors-continue-to-grow/