Why Do Countries Compete Over Tiny Islands?

Imagine you and your friend are playing a game where each of you gets a small piece of land to build your own backyard. But if one of you takes an extra piece, it might give them more space for their toys, or even allow them to block the other person's path to the playground. That’s kind of like island territorial disputes. Countries sometimes fight over tiny islands because they can give a country better fishing rights, control over trade routes, or help protect them from enemies.