France, Sept. 4 -- In just a few months, China has transformed two previously unused sandbanks into artificial islands bearing the hallmarks of military installations. After building around 20 outposts across the South China Sea since 2013, Beijing has resumed construction in waters disputed by several of its neighbours, notably Vietnam.

A mysterious triangular concrete structure, a harbour and a long strip of reclaimed land resembling a runway have emerged since China began major dredging and construction work in the Paracels in December 2025.

Satellite imagery analysed by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) shows the rapid transformation of two sandbanks that Beijing had previously left undeveloped.

"We cannot say for ce...