Is China's Actions in the South China Sea an Imperial Invasion?

China's neighbors view its actions in the south china sea as an imperial aggressive incursion. China is surrounded on all sides, in their own neighborhood by us. Military bases or us Allies. India is sort of, maybe emerging as a quasi ally. And further south inhe western pacific, gadam, and new zealandh s a sort of understanding with vnam. The philippines, goes back and forth, but is ostensibly an alli highland as well. So i want pasiz that this is not just about pushing back against sense of vulnerability. It's also a positive desire to become a great power.