The current revelation is that after the 2002 DOC, Vietnam has been continuing to reclaim land on reefs and building new outposts. And this was before China's recent and ongoing land reclamation. So DOC becoming poo isn't because of the Chinese. That was the accusation but the recent validation by western sources throws that charge out the window (the Chinese had been saying that for a while now but of course why would the opposition believe them). Yes, Chinese decided to go big with scale of reclamation but they would be responding to other reclamation as opposed to instigating it.
There's difference point of view.
You think China reclamation was responding to other countries, but like I explain, it's like how China made reef under water become outpost with big garrison and forty with gun and men.
_ Philippines hasn't resource, so they keep their old garrison, even on rotten ship.
_ Malaysia expanded their post long time ago, and seem like PRC had not any complain.
_ Same with VNese, simple, we began on small Island and sand field, to improve life conditions after we took control from South VN.
_ China began on Spartly with all reef that they take from VN after battle 1988, all under water when tide up.
It's far, far away from China mainland, yet PRC made them become strong outpost, even with big radar station in vast sea.
So we all do the same at before, improve your post in limit, enough for garrison, no more outpost. It was fair and agreed term.
_ But now, after become great power, it's clearly, China has more resource to turn a mere reef become huge artificial islands.
This event continue after many other actions made tension rise on the region. They took Scarborough shoal from Philippines, even could take Eldad Reef if VNese has weak react.
PRC excuse was not reasonable enough for their intention was prepare for create new ADIZ, which was believe by many experts.
It's just like how they want to drilling oil on disputed area, because VNese had drilling in undisputed area where was turn out also disputed in Chinese eyes because it was inside their 9-10-11-dash-lines map which cover nearly 90% of SCS.
Evidence of Chinese move on Eldad Reef.
Garrison map on SCS.