China has been stemming much controversy as of late through the claiming of the Spratly Islands and the building of military bases on their land.  The islands are very far from the Chinese mainland and much closer to Vietnam and the Philippines–two others laying claim to the islands.  It seems in this instance that China has gone too far in claiming these islands and is just trying to expand its territory in a way that will dominate Southeast Asia.  As the Spratly Islands are very far from the Chinese mainland, are UN and Nato treaties to block china justified?