South China Sea island build-up heightens Vietnam’s security concerns

Vietnam faces heightened security in the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea amid reports of construction works in the Paracels archipelago – which Beijing calls Xisha Islands – with analysts saying that the latest developments could alter the strategic balance in the contested waters.Hanoi voiced its strong objection after reports citing satellite imagery said new Chinese infrastructure had appeared on Yagong Island, called Ba Ba Island by Vietnam.“Vietnam ⁠resolutely opposes this, has made serious representations and affirmed its position on the matter, and demands an immediate end to such activities and that they not be repeated,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said on Friday.