ManilaTimes-July 27
Vietnam is aggressively building permanent structures in the contested West Philippine Sea (WPS) based on a document obtained by The Manila Times titled “Planning of Construction Projects on Pearson Reef and Pigeon Reef in Spratly Islands,” signed by Rear Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy, and dated March 27, 2023. Hizon (Pearson) Reef and Pigeon (Tennent) Reef are among the atolls in the Spratly Islands. The Philippines, China, Taiwan and Vietnam are also claimants to the reefs. Vietnam claimed possession of Hizon Reef in 1978 and Pigeon Reef in 1988. The document obtained by The Times said the Vietnamese are now building military installations and civilian residential housing in the area. In the paper, Vietnam noted that the “complicated and volatile international and regional situations in recent years,” particularly the competing claims of sovereignty by several countries over areas in the South China Sea, have affected its economy and national defense “in multiple ways.” The Vietnam People’s Navy said the purpose and significance of implementing the Spratly Island Construction Planning is to “improve the management and defense capability of islands, boost the confidence and morale of officials and people in the islands, safeguard islands, continental shelf and the southern petroleum zone.” It noted the strategic location of the atolls for military purposes. “Through expanding Pearson Reef and Pigeon Reef, building a battle group, we could develop a posture for attack and defense with the ability of mutual support. This is of long-term strategic significance since the control of waterways can be strengthened and military pressure to neighbor countries can be increased,” it said in the document. The overall budget for the massive undertaking is 6,425 billion dong (roughly P14.829 million), including 3,745 billion dong (around P8.664 million) for Hizon Reef and 2,680 billion dong (around P6.188 million) for Pigeon Reef. Read more at:
https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/07/27/news/vietnam-builds-more-facilities-in-spratlys/1902626
