According to US media reports on August 24,Vietnam is significantly expanding its island-building projects on Chinese islands and reefs illegally occupied in the South China Sea.
It is well known that Vietnam has long coveted the South China Sea. Since 2021, Vietnam has been reclaiming and building islands on the islands and reefs it illegally occupies.However, what was unexpected was that Vietnam actually took advantage of the Philippines 'crazy provocations in the South China Sea to secretly build islands in the South China Sea.
Vietnam is deeply dependent on China, not only is its electricity supply largely dependent on China.China has also been Vietnam’s largest trading partner for many years in a row, and by 2024 alone, China-Vietnam’s bilateral trade will be close to half of Vietnam’s GDP.
Obviously, if it weren't for China, Vietnam would not have developed to the extent it is now,Vietnam's activities in the South China Sea are equivalent to biting the hand that feeds you with bite.
On August 25, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiangkun issued a clear warning on Vietnam’s actions at a routine press conference.It also said that it would take necessary measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, but Vietnam has not yet responded.
So,Why does Vietnam have to illegally occupy China islands and reefs in the South China Sea and reclaim them? What is the purpose of the American media's exposure of this matter? What does China's statement imply?
Why do Vietnam build islands in the South China Sea?
The first is naturally for the rich resources of the South China Sea. Not only does the South China Sea have more than 30 billion tons of oil reserves, but also 20 trillion cubic meters of natural gas resources, which is considered the second Persian Gulf.
In addition, the mineral resources and fishery resources in the South China Sea are also very rich, so whoever owns the South China Sea will own the future of East Asia.
As a Southeast Asian country, Vietnam has been economically highly dependent on exports and manufacturing for years, but Vietnam's main exports are agricultural products, and manufacturing is basically concentrated in labor-intensive industries, which all rely on Vietnam's cheap labor force advantage.
Once the energy and other resources in the South China Sea are mastered, Vietnam will not only be able to transform from an exporter of agricultural products and processing manufacturing into an exporter of energy, but the economic benefits it can obtain are almost unimaginable.
The second is for military deployment through the South China Sea. The South China Sea is not only an international shipping artery, but also located at the intersection of East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Although Vietnam is currently a powerful country in South East Asia, its small land area makes it impossible to deploy its military within its own country, and it has no position and ability to expand outward.
By reclaiming and building islands in the South China Sea, Vietnam can build military facilities and conduct military activities on the islands, and then form a military deterrent in the South China Sea to enhance its sphere of influence.
Finally, to further rely on international forces to gain profits, Vietnam has been able to rush on the South China Sea issue, in addition to its foolishness about all kinds of resources in the South China Sea, but also to submit a ballot letter to the United States.
In order to expand its influence in the Asia-Pacific region and gain relevant interests in the South China Sea, the United States has always supported provocations against China against countries such as Vietnam that have territorial sovereignty disputes with China in the South China Sea, including military assistance and public opinion support.
Vietnam's initiative to pick trouble in the South China Sea can not only satisfy the United States, provide more assistance to Vietnam, and enhance Vietnam's military strength, but also use the influence of public opinion of the United States to whitewash Vietnam's illegal activities in the South China Sea as a reasonable act of safeguarding sovereignty and help Vietnam invade the territory of the South China Sea.
But since Vietnam is hiding in the South China Sea for massive sea-building islands, why would the US media want to directly expose this matter to the world?
US media exposes the purpose of illegal behavior in Vietnam
On the one hand, in order to take the lead in public opinion, it is necessary to conceal the fact that Vietnam illegally occupies Chinese islands.
The US media did not expose it early or late, but chose a critical moment when the scale of Vietnam's reclamation and island building was close to the scale of China's similar projects to expose the matter.It is in order to take advantage of the scale of China-Vietnam's construction of islands in the South Plovdiv Sea to reduce the rationality of China's safeguarding territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea in the public opinion.
After all, in the U.S. media reports, there is no mention of the illegalities of Vietnam’s actions, and if China is openly defending its sovereignty, it can shape China into a weak image.
Unfortunately, China's territorial sovereignty over the South China Sea was announced to the world as early as 1947, and the international community has long publicly recognized this. The US media's calculations are likely to fail.
On the other hand, it is to win over Vietnam so that the United States can intervene militarily in the South China Sea in the so-called legitimate name.
Vietnam has had frequent contacts with China recently, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit this year.Vietnamese Prime Minister Van Ming was also invited to attend the Tianjin meeting, and the United States would not naturally be able to look at Vietnam turning toward China.
You know, relying on countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines, the United States frequently sends warships to the South China Sea and holds joint military exercises with Vietnam and other countries.In order to contain China, to stir up the situation in the South China Sea.
This time, the US media spoke out for Vietnam in international public opinion in order to let Vietnam taste the sweetness of the South China Sea issue and better use it for the United States. From this point of view, the United States and Vietnam each have their needs. It is difficult to say that Vietnam dares to expand the scale of its reclamation and island-building in the South China Sea so boldly, without the tacit consent of the United States.
Of course, with such blatant collusion between the United States and Vietnam, it is impossible for China not to take a stand and safeguard China's territorial sovereignty.
China's tough stance
Although the response of the Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiangkun was only a short word, it implied three clear statements from the Chinese side.
First, China reaffirms that the Nansha Islands are China's inherent territory.
This statement first declares China's territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea.For the South China Sea, China has a clear historical basis and support from international documents such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration.
In contrast, Vietnam has no other evidence, except that it has spoken of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the South China Sea, that any illegal acts in the South China Sea are provoking China, but also violating China’s territorial sovereignty.
Second, China expresses its firm opposition to the construction activities of relevant countries on illegally occupied islands and reefs.
This sentence refers to Vietnam's illegal act of occupying Chinese islands and reefs and reclaiming islands from the sea.This shows the rationality and legitimacy of China's declaration of sovereignty and its measures to safeguard it.
Third, China stated that it will take necessary measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
This is not the first time that Vietnam has provoked the South China Sea. There have been two relatively large-scale military conflicts between China and Vietnam in the South China Sea in the past.
This sentence is actually a reminder to Vietnam that China will not sit still and wait for Vietnam's actionsMoreover, it is impossible to say nothing in just two words, after all, Vietnam can be said to have reached the bottom line of China's South China Sea issue.
As for whether China will attack Vietnam for the third time, I am afraid it depends on whether Vietnam itself can think clearly.
Reference source:
On August 25, 2025, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiangkun, presided over a routine press conference.
2025-08-25 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
Vietnam steps up land reclamation in the Nansha Islands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: It will take necessary measures to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests
2025-08-25 observer network
US think tank says Vietnam "fills islands" in the South China Sea, China responds
2025-08-26 Worldwide Network
Bilateral trade volume exceeds US $205 billion in 2024
2025-01-17 Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China