What is China's thought process?

To answer, this question, we must answer the question as to how people think? This is answered in explaining how neurons fire! Neurons are nerve cells that provide the foundation of the nervous system. When neurons fire, they transmit information. So what motivated the Chinese to create artificial islands in the South China Seas? Their neurons motivated them! Neurons send off information in the form electrical energy and chemical energy. According the Law of Conservation of Energy, energy in an isolated system must be conserved. Therefore, chemical energy and electrical energy in a neuron is then transmitted onto the next neuron passing off the same information if in an isolated system.

One neuron thinks to the other "I should make artificial islands in the South China Seas..." then the Chinese act on this thought created by their neurons firing off.