Vietnam Started To Dig Up Reefs Of South China Sea
Vietnam has started to clean and dig up the reefs of the disputed waters in the South China Sea, which claimed by China as their own.
The communist state started move claiming the disputed water in a strategic waterway. The activity of Vietnam on the Ladd reef of Spratly Island is completely visible. Vietnam’s activity may trigger tension against China.
China claims the water as the South China Sea, which declined by the Permanent Court of Arbitration last July 12, 2016. The higher Court said that China has no legal basis for their claims and declared the disputed waters as a common fishing ground.
But China still claims sovereignty over the Vietnamese group and claiming most parts of the sea. Ladd Reef can be located on the south-western fringe of the Spratly Island, which also claims by Taiwan.
Several vessels were visible on the newly dug part between the open sea and the lagoon as shown on the image captured by US-based satellite firm Planet Labs last November 30, 2016. The reef was completely immersed in a high-tide. The analyst can’t yet determine the purpose of the activity but it is similar to the digging activities conducted on the other reefs.
“We can see that, in this environment, Vietnam’s strategic mistrust is total … and they are rapidly improving their defenses,” said Trevor Hollingsbee, a retired naval intelligence analyst with Britain’s defense ministry quoted by Philstar.
Vietnam covered some islands with rocket artillery launchers capable of attacking China’s vital trade route. The foreign ministry of Vietnam did not comment on the incident. The vessel at the reef can’t be identified in the images shown.
The completion of dredging activity at the Ladd Reef is not yet clear but it is clear that Vietnam would not allow another country to control the reef.
