The Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative reported that Vietnam is rapidly constructing artificial islands in the South China Sea as tensions with the Chinese communist regime escalate. Since November 2023, Vietnam has created 692 new acres of islands through dredging and landfill, almost matching the combined total of 404 acres in the first 11 months of 2023 and 347 acres in 2022.
China has been building islands in the same waters since 2013, where it claims sovereignty. The South China Sea holds significant resources, with China asserting exclusive rights to over 80 percent of the area. However, other countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia also claim sovereignty over their exclusive economic zones within the region, leading to overlapping claims.
In response to China’s increased aggression, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries have been taking steps to protect their interests. Vietnam protested China’s fishing ban in the disputed waters, and the ruling Chinese Communist Party has been using aggressive tactics such as driving away foreign fishing boats and implementing new Coast Guard rules that allow for the arrest of individuals in territorial waters.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers issued a rare statement in December 2023, calling for peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea. Countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia are also increasing efforts in offshore oil and gas projects while strengthening maritime security cooperation with the Philippines.
In response to China’s actions, Philippine President Bongbong Marcos has expanded U.S. military bases in the Philippines and attended summits with the US and Japan. The Philippines also plans to sign a Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan to enhance military cooperation.
Overall, countries like Vietnam and the Philippines are looking to ASEAN and external partners like the United States to counter China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea. The historical context of territorial claims in the region, including the nine-dash line and the Republic of China’s 11-dash line, adds complexity to the dispute. When the communist regime took control of mainland China and established the communist People’s Republic of China in 1949, it asserted its claim over the disputed territory.
During the Vietnam War in 1957, Chinese Communist Party leaders Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai signed a secret treaty with North Vietnam, granting Vietnam control over the Gulf of Tonkin and Bach Long Vi island in the South China Sea. Following the takeover of South Vietnam in 1975, communist Vietnam inherited the sovereignty claim over the Spratly Islands from the French.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has utilized the nine-dash line to demarcate its maritime territory in the South China Sea, while the Republic of China (ROC) government in Taiwan maintains the 11-dash line.
In recent years, the ROC government has reaffirmed its territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea and has adopted a collaborative approach with other countries to ensure freedom of navigation and promote cooperation.
Vietnam has pursued a neutral foreign policy but has aligned with major powers like the United States and France to address disputes with China, similar to the stance taken by the Philippines.
The Chinese Communist Party’s emphasis on asserting sovereignty in the South China Sea has raised concerns among neighboring countries and led to increased cooperation to counter China’s aggressive actions. This has highlighted China as a potential threat to regional stability.
Overall, the actions of the CCP have not only increased tensions in the region but have also united neighboring countries in response to China’s assertive behavior. Please rewrite this sentence.
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