Vietnam demands China halt construction on disputed Paracel reefs

August 31, 2026 at 02:32 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry demanded on Friday that China immediately cease reclamation and construction on Antelope Reef and Yagong Reef in the Paracel Islands. Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang called the activities illegal and said Hanoi lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing. The demand follows satellite imagery showing a likely airstrip on Antelope Reef and radar-like structures on Yagong Reef.

Key Facts

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on Friday demanded an immediate cessation of Chinese construction on Antelope Reef and Yagong Reef in the Paracel Islands.
The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative reported on August 14 that China had completed land reclamation at Antelope Reef and that a likely airstrip had emerged.
Reuters reported on August 25 that satellite imagery showed several structures on Yagong Reef resembling military radar or early warning facilities.
Vietnam has reclaimed 2,771 acres of land in the Spratly Islands as of May 2026, according to AMTI.

Vietnam's Protest

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated at a regular press briefing on Friday that Vietnam has full historical evidence and legal grounds to affirm its sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, including Hai Sam reef and Ba Ba island. Hang called all foreign activities in the Paracels, including at the two sites in question, completely illegal and null and void. Vietnam has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with China over the issue and demands the immediate cessation of such activities and that they not be repeated.

Satellite Evidence

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, run by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, reported on August 14 that China had completed land reclamation at Antelope Reef and that the first signs of major infrastructure, including a likely airstrip, had emerged. Reuters reported on August 25 that new installations had been sighted on Yagong Reef, an islet close to Antelope Reef, citing photos taken by commercial satellite imagery provider Vantor. A Vantor spokesperson told Reuters that several structures on Yagong Reef resemble other military radar or early warning facilities seen elsewhere in the South China Sea and are likely associated with the ultimate military functions of nearby Antelope Reef.

Regional Reclamation

Vietnam claims sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, which it calls Hoang Sa, but the archipelago has been under Chinese control since 1974. In recent years Vietnam has undertaken significant land reclamation at its features in the Spratly Islands, which lie to the south of the Paracels and are also contested by the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei. AMTI reported in May that Vietnam had reclaimed a total of 2,771 acres of land in the Spratlys and was beginning construction of extensive infrastructure, including harbors, munitions storage depots, and communications structures. AMTI has also previously reported that Vietnam is building an airstrip on Barque Canada Reef, its largest feature in the Spratlys.