Vietnam Builds Airstrip on Reclaimed Island in South China Sea

The latest satellite imagery has revealed a new airstrip taking shape on Barque Canada reef, an artificial island developed by Vietnam in the disputed Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea.

Images provided by Earth imaging company Planet Labs and analyzed by Radio Free Asia show a partial runway of about 1,050 meters (3,445 feet) in length in the middle of the reef.

Barque Canada reef is one of the Vietnam-controlled Spratly islands that has undergone development at a remarkable pace since 2021.

According to RFA’s estimates, as of October 2024, the total landfill area more than doubled in one year to nearly 2.5 square kilometers, or 617.7 acres.

The island now stretches over a length of 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) making it possible to develop an airstrip of 3,000 meters or more.

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Vietnam could still use shorter runways for small aircraft like the Antonov An-2 transport airplanes or helicopters, explained Tom Shugart, adjunct senior fellow with the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security.

But a longer runway is needed for combat aircraft, he said.

“Another base and runway would give Vietnam a position on the other side of China’s ‘Big Three’ islands,” he said, referring to Fiery Cross, Subi and Mischief reefs.

These three artificial islands have been fully militarized by Beijing with missile systems and runways longer than 3,000 meters.

Read the article and more on Radio Free Asia.