For decades, both US and China stated they were anti-imperial. They were in fact anti British Empire for different reasons. Russia joined the anti-imperial camp while occupying East Europe.

As the word 'empire' is not used for their own interests, then the claim continues.  Gradually, the old compulsion is taking shape -
China in Tibet, north India and China Sea.
Russia in Crimea, Ukraine, Georgia and maybe Baltic areas.
The US has several Pacific territories and semi-territories world-wide.
Where these collide, the militaries are involved and battles of empires are seen in actions if not in names.  The European empires began as explorations, gold digging or spice-trading. They were commercial companies, then military expeditions and finally empires.  Events now may be the introduction to the next imperial conflicts while denying it's happening. 

In the Northern Hemisphere, Politics, regardless of type, ideal, etc. Always states it's for 'the People's!
But after getting in power, they become an entity not for the people at large. But for the People in the establishment of politics itself.
The general public at large become the exploitable commodity for the Political (Nation) industry or the Military (Empire).

There is a shift in China's pressure.
'China also deposited to the UN the Statement on the Baselines of the Territorial Sea Adjacent to Huangyan Dao  on December 3.[Scarborough shoal].

"If the Philippines undertakes further provocative actions at Ren’ai Jiao [Thomas shoal] in 2025, the possibility cannot be ruled out that China may take measures such as removing the Philippine military vessel that has been illegally 'grounded' there for decades," said Wu. Dec 17.
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Both shoals are within the EEZ 200 mile limit from the Philippines. China is now threatening a defined military action on Philippines property. This suggests it has calculated that the US will be inactive.