Vietnam has revved up South China Sea land reclamation efforts this year, beginning construction on eight previously untouched Spratly Islands features.
The nation’s top military officer is visiting U.S. troops Monday in Puerto Rico and on a Navy warship in the region, where the U.S. has amassed a fleet.
The U.S. and the Philippines announce a joint task force to deter what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls Beijing’s “coercion” in the South China Sea.