Malaysia complains to Vietnam over South China Sea reef expansion, sources say

The complaint was over Vietnam's alleged artificial expansion of the Barque Canada Reef, an islet in the Spratlys. - PHOTO: Reuters

HANOI/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia has sent a complaint letter to Vietnam over its alleged expansion of a South China Sea reef that both countries claim as their own, two officials told Reuters, in a rare bilateral escalation not involving China.

The move brings to light another of the multiple disputes in the strategic waterway, most of which China claims sovereignty over, with Beijing involved in frequent altercations with the Philippines and sporadic rows with Vietnam.