By By Kesavan Unnikrishnan Jan 13, 2017 in World Indonesia has added more than 1100 to the official count of its islands, from 13,466 to 14,572. The country will also allow foreign investors to name more than 4,000 of its islands that do not have names. The move comes as an assertion of Indonesia's sovereignty amidst China’s aggression in the South China Sea. Bryahmantya Poerwadi, a spokesperson of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries We want to record these islands as a part of Indonesia, so that no other state can recognize them. Indonesia is also planning to let foreign investors to get involved in naming and managing many of its 4,000 uninhabited islands. Currently, only 8,844 Indonesian islands have names. According to officials, foreign investors will not be allowed to own an island, but to manage it for an established period of time. Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan If the island is for tourists, it’s fine, as long as there are plans and regulations. Japan asked if they could have one certain region for elderly. I then said go ahead and settle there but we would never sell the island. Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world, is often said to be a country of more than 17,000 islands. The CIA puts the number of islands in Indonesia at 17,508 while a 2002 survey by Indonesia’s aeronautics and space institute, estimates a much higher number of 18,307 with more than 6,000 of the islands uninhabited. Map of Indonesia Wikipedia Commons Indonesia is planning to submit a figure of 14,572 as official count of its islands at the UN Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names scheduled to take place later this year. The previous official tally was 13,466, submitted in 2012.The move comes as an assertion of Indonesia's sovereignty amidst China’s aggression in the South China Sea. Bryahmantya Poerwadi, a spokesperson of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said Indonesia is also planning to let foreign investors to get involved in naming and managing many of its 4,000 uninhabited islands. Currently, only 8,844 Indonesian islands have names. According to officials, foreign investors will not be allowed to own an island, but to manage it for an established period of time. Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world, is often said to be a country of more than 17,000 islands. The CIA puts the number of islands in Indonesia at 17,508 while a 2002 survey by Indonesia’s aeronautics and space institute, estimates a much higher number of 18,307 with more than 6,000 of the islands uninhabited. More about Indonesia, Islands, Archipelago Indonesia Islands Archipelago