Beijing has taken aim at Vietnam and demanded fishermen be given an "education" on "illegal activities" in the South China Sea, as regional tensions ramp up. The demands were made in response to Hanoi's fury at China's detention of Vietnamese fishermen and fishing vessels in the disputed Paracel Islands.

New images released by the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies show that Vietnam is laying a runway approximately 2.4km long in the South China Sea and could build two more airstrips.

Vietnam's progress has been swift and quiet. In the past five months alone, it has reclaimed more than 2 sq km (0.8 square miles) in the contested Spratly Islands, according to Beijing-based think tank the Sea Probing Initiative.

China has yet to respond to the call, which includes payment for two damaged boats and the return of rifles seized during the June 17 stand-off The Philippine military chief has reiterated calls for Beijing to compensate for damages and return rifles seized during a violent confrontation in the disputed South China Sea that left a Filipino sailor