Vietnam beefs up military garrisons in Spratlys

MANILA, Philippines -  Like China, Vietnam has also built and gradually strengthened its military garrisons and outposts well within Philippine territory in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Documents and photographs obtained by News5 showed that, along with China, Vietnam has been very active in building up its fortifications on the islands and reefs it occupies.

The disputed islands cover 200,000 square miles and are made up of some 200 islands, reefs and shoals.

Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam are claiming the Spratlys either in part or in whole.

The area is widely believed to have massive deposits of oil, gas, minerals and has prime, untapped fishing areas.

The Philippines is claiming only a portion of the Spratlys, known as the Kalayaan Island Group, which covers a 64,000-square mile area and is made up of 53 islands, reefs and shoals.

The Kalayaan Island Group is a municipality of Palawan and located within the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

Vietnam has occupied 23 territories in the Spratlys; China and Malaysia have seven each, the Philippines nine, and Taiwan only one.

Of the 23 Vietnamese occupied territories, seven are located in the Kalayaan Island Group. These are located in the Binago (or Namyit) Island, Sincowe East Island, Lagos (or Spratly) Island, Kalantiyaw (or Amboyna) Cay, Gitna (or Central) Reef and Hizon (or Pearson) Reef.

A Philippine government briefing paper said that “Vietnam is at the forefront of construction activities, having built the most number of additional structures at its occupied territories since 1998.”

The Vietnamese construction activities cover renovation, remodeling and addition of single story buildings in the seven areas. 

The documents noted the increase in the number of solar panels and piers, “indicative of an increased activity in its territories.”

The Vietnamese have given particular focus on stemming soil erosion by building seawalls at Namyit Island, Sincowe Island and Gitna (or Central) Reef.

The documents also noted that Vietnam has been “the most active” in strengthening the defensive capabilities of its outposts.

Gun emplacements and gun shelters are located on Kalantiyaw Cay, Gitna Reef, Binago Island, Hizon Reef, Sincowe East and Pugad Cay.

It is widely believed that troops are stationed in the Vietnamese-held areas.

Documents also showed that Vietnam has built or is planning to build extended gun emplacements in Collins Reef, Paredes (or Great Discovery) Reef, Ladd Reef and Len Dao Reef. 

It is also planning to rehabilitate an airstrip on Lagos (or Spratly) Island.

Apart from Vietnam, the Philippines is the other country known to maintain an airstrip in its territory. The document indicated that “China has not attempted” to build an airstrip in any of the territories it occupies.

The document also said Hanoi is using tourism to bolster its claim on the Spratlys. Since 2004, Vietnam has increased the number of ship travels to the area. In April 2004, Vietnam sent a boatload of tourists to Kalantiyaw (or Amboyna ) Cay as part of tourism promotions.

A Google search shows several Vietnamese websites that promote visits to the Spratlys, which features photos of the Vientamese held areas within the Kalayaan Island Group. – With Pia Lee-Brago