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.

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.