China Launches Campaign to Develop 11,000 Claimed Islands

The Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China announced a long-term campaign on April 22, 2026, to develop and upgrade infrastructure on more than 11,000 claimed islands. The initiative aims to strengthen maritime power, secure natural resources, and reinforce territorial claims, with the ministry describing these islands as a strategic frontier for deep-ocean resource development.

This strategy builds on previous actions, including extensive land reclamation in the South China Sea and the September 2025 declaration of a national nature reserve at the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Alongside the infrastructure push, China released a video suggesting the development of a fourth aircraft carrier, which would be nuclear-powered, while signaling its claim over Taiwan.

These developments occur as the United States and the Philippines, along with partner nations, conduct multinational military drills across the Philippine archipelago. The moves align with a broader goal established by President Xi Jinping in 2012 to transform China into a great maritime power.