How the Johnson South Reef Skirmish Set the Stage for China’s South China Sea Expansionism Policy

South China Sea – Thirty-seven years ago today, a small but brutal naval clash in the South China Sea changed the course of history. The Johnson South Reef Skirmish on March 14, 1988, saw China and Vietnam face off in a deadly battle over a contested reef in the Spratly Islands. It was over in minutes, but the consequences have lasted decades. Around 70 Vietnamese soldiers died, two of their ships were sunk, and China walked away with a new piece of territory—one it never let go of.

Fast forward to today, and China’s grip on the South China Sea is tighter than ever. Artificial islands, military bases, and an aggressive naval presence have turned the region into a flashpoint for global tensions. The Johnson South Reef clash may have been a brief skirmish, but it was a preview of the power struggle that still defines the region today.

A Battle Over More Than Just a Reef

The Spratly Islands are more than just dots on the map—they are at the centre of one of the most bitter territorial disputes in the world. Claimed by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei, the islands are a mix of reefs, atolls, and rocks scattered across a resource-rich stretch of ocean. Whoever controls them gets access to lucrative fishing grounds, potential oil and gas reserves, and control over some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

In 1987, China found a backdoor into the Spratlys. It was chosen by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to set up a sea-level monitoring station in the area under the Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS). Scientists went in to do research—but China saw an opportunity for territorial expansion.

By early 1988, tensions were boiling over. Vietnamese forces had occupied several reefs in the Spratly chain, and China wasn’t happy about it. Then came March 14, and things turned bloody.

How the Johnson South Reef Skirmish Went Down

It started as a flag-raising contest—but ended in gunfire. Vietnamese forces, determined to assert their claim, attempted to plant a flag on Johnson South Reef. But Chinese troops were already there, and they weren’t about to let that happen. What exactly triggered the shooting depends on who you ask.

China’s Side of the Story: On March 13, a Chinese frigate spotted Vietnamese ships approaching Johnson South Reef, Lansdowne Reef, and Collins Reef. On March 14, Vietnamese soldiers attempted to raise their flag at Johnson South Reef. China claims Vietnam fired first, forcing them to retaliate.

Vietnam’s Side of the Story: As per the Vietnamese account of things, China was the aggressor, moving in to take control of the reef. Vietnamese troops were outnumbered and outgunned. Chinese warships opened fire, sinking two Vietnamese transport ships—HQ-604 and HQ-605. 64 Vietnamese soldiers were killed, while others were captured or went missing. When the dust settled, China had taken control of the reef—and it never left.

The Johnson South Reef Skirmish was China’s first major military action in the Spratlys—but it wouldn’t be the last. The battle sent a clear message: China was willing to use force to assert its territorial claims. And that’s exactly what it did.  

After securing Johnson South Reef, China kept expanding—occupying more reefs, building military bases, and slowly but steadily tightening its hold on the South China Sea.

The Bigger Picture: What the Skirmish Set in Motion

The South China Sea is one of the most hotly contested waters on the planet today, and China’s presence is only growing stronger. In the years after Johnson South Reef, China took over Mischief Reef in 1994, despite protests from the Philippines. It built massive artificial islands on multiple reefs, equipping them with airstrips, radar stations, and missile launchers. Furthermore, Beijing ignored a 2016 ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which rejected its sweeping claims over the South China Sea. Since then, the Chinese have challenged the U.S. and allied forces conducting freedom of navigation patrols in the region.

Tensions in the South China Sea are still high. China’s navy is stronger than ever, and it’s not backing down. The Philippines, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian nations are pushing back, and the United States is increasing its military presence in the region.