![Like Beijing, Vietnam is banking on the development of artificial islands in the South China Sea Like Beijing, Vietnam is banking on the development of artificial islands in the South China Sea](https://media.lesechos.com/api/v1/images/view/666831ae4596b67ed65eb858/1280x720/01101810778555-web-tete.jpg)
It’s a bit like the story of the watered sprinkler… Regularly denounced for building artificial islands and placing military installations there in the South China Sea, Beijing has been emulated at least once. For three years, Hanoi has in fact followed the same strategy and has even tended to accelerate, according to a recent report from the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI). All without attracting attention or arousing international criticism.
According to this think tank linked to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) located in Washington, the year 2024 could even mark a record in terms of areas reclaimed from the sea. At the risk of heightening tensions between the two neighbors in the highly disputed area of the Spratly Islands, even though Beijing and Hanoi have strengthened their cooperation at the end of 2023, notably with the state visit of Xi Jinping.