Actually, I can imagine China doing this. It would not be due to a cartoon villainy, "Bwahaha! That pesky Captain Planet can't stop the Great China from poisoning the Earth!"
Look at the territorial claims they're making in the ocean. Now imagine if the people pushing these claims realized, "Hey, if we could *create* a new island a few hundred miles out where there was no island before, then our claims could also be extended out a few hundred miles more." And when their military people realize that said rock could be preprepared to be an instant naval installation and air field... And seeing as how they're on the UN Security Council they can simply veto any resolutions against these new islands without having to actually pass any resolutions that other countries or groups might try to use to get automatic approval of the same thing.
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Will the transhumanist future have catgirls? Does Japan still exist? Well, there is your answer.
Look at the territorial claims they're making in the ocean. Now imagine if the people pushing these claims realized, "Hey, if we could *create* a new island a few hundred miles out where there was no island before, then our claims could also be extended out a few hundred miles more." And when their military people realize that said rock could be preprepared to be an instant naval installation and air field... And seeing as how they're on the UN Security Council they can simply veto any resolutions against these new islands without having to actually pass any resolutions that other countries or groups might try to use to get automatic approval of the same thing.
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Will the transhumanist future have catgirls? Does Japan still exist? Well, there is your answer.