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Because China will claim it as its territory and set up a military base there before you can count to ten.

Just ask The Philippines.

And because it enables claims on resources located in its economic zone and the corresponding seabed.

Take for instance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Polynesia, tiny islands but huge ocean area with immense resources.

Seems pretty far for China to care about. Pitcairn Island is roughly the same great circle distance from Beijing as it is from London.

Would you say the same about Solomon Islands?

What makes you think it's looking at London?

Pitcairn Islands is half way to the Americas, and right in the thick of a bunch of U.S. territories.

What are the US territories it's in the thick of? Closest territories are French Polynesia and Rapa nui, a Chilean territory.