Chinese Coastguard Patrols Disputed Reefs Controlled by Vietnam in South China Sea

Chinese Coastguard Activity in Disputed Waters

Three Chinese coastguard ships conducted patrols around disputed reefs in the South China Sea last week, areas currently controlled by Vietnam. Maritime tracking data revealed that the vessels, identified by their hull numbers 4301, 5009, and 21559, departed from a Chinese base on Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands on Thursday and returned on Saturday after circling various land features.

Specific Reefs Targeted and Vietnamese Reclamation Efforts

The patrol route encompassed several features, including Grierson Reef, Sin Cowe Island, Lansdowne Reef, Collins Reef, Pearson Reef, Alison Reef, Cornwallis South Reef, and Tennent Reef. Notably, Vietnam has undertaken substantial land reclamation on some of these reefs since 2021, specifically Pearson, Alison, Cornwallis South, and Tennent. As of May, Pearson Reef, known as Bisheng Jiao in China and Dao Phan Vinh in Vietnam, had been expanded to cover 1.27 square kilometers (0.49 square miles), making it one of the largest artificial islands under Vietnamese control. Structures on Pearson Reef include a 2.5-kilometer airfield and a large harbor, while Tennent Reef also features a runway. Vietnam occupies the most features among claimant states in the Spratlys, having built over 8.5 square kilometers of land in the last four years up to May.

Geopolitical Context and Regional Tensions

The purpose of this specific patrol by the Chinese coastguard vessels remains unclear. This incident occurred amidst heightened tensions in the South China Sea, a region characterized by overlapping territorial disputes involving China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and other claimants. The patrol also followed a recent reaffirmation by Beijing and Hanoi to 'properly handle maritime issues.' While the Chinese coastguard frequently engages in confrontations with Philippine vessels, it has largely avoided open conflict with Vietnam over their maritime disputes. China's expansive claims in the South China Sea were dismissed by a 2016 tribunal ruling as having 'no legal basis,' a decision Beijing has rejected.