[immadashell]

The ChiComs know there are vast oil reserves that have yet to be exploited. They are claiming any and all uninhibited islands for no other reason than to keep them out of other countries hands. They want to claim as much of the reserves as they can get. A pesky little desert island in the middle of an active oil field could create a problem if it is claimed by some other nation.

[Jumper]

Mining is a huge thing now in the PI. I have a friend who just retired from the Foreign Service and his wife is an Executive in a very large company mining in the PI (She is Pilipino) and things are going nicely for them.