This is the pattern of Chinese "semi-soft" Neo-Imperialism. They fund infra-structure development with loans that are calibrated to project plausible economic benefits that fall short. When the recipients end up too strapped to pay back, they forfeit their voice in the management of the assets.
This is similar to the strategies used over centuries of empires originating in the Beijing region, which slowly led to the Han peoples going from 18% to 90% of the population inside the Great Wall. Chairman Xi now has a 100 year plan to go from 18% of the world population to 90%.
China is deft in leveraging islands, having built three islands in the South China Sea for military bases and claims exclusive ownership of the natural and mineral wealth there. Each one of these fortified coral reefs is claiming 125,000 square miles (330,000km2) of ocean.