China to build up over 11,000 islands

China announced on Wednesday, April 23, 2026, that it will further build up more than 11,000 islands it claims as its own. The stated purpose is to better govern the islands, strengthen maritime power, secure more natural resources, and reinforce territorial claims. This declaration frames the construction as part of a long-term campaign, likely impacting ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea.