[adventured]

You're being generous. China is annexing territory that belongs to Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The same thing that Russia is doing in Ukraine. It's an act of war, the issue is that the world is very afraid of China (both militarily and economically).

[AnimalMuppet]

No, it's a territorial claim - so far. It's not yet an act of war. Trying to enforce the claim will be an act of war.

Building the islands... well, everybody else who claims that area also seems to be building there. That could, arguably, be considered an act of war, but so far everybody's doing it and we do not yet have a war.

[tellthetruth]

Get some education unadventured! The territory doesn't belong to Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.