Keep the second half of that phrase in mind when you question their imperialist designs.
http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Dynasty/history-maps-dynasty.html
Look at the map in the Qing dynasty and look at it today. I don't think you can say that as expansionistic, in fact, it has shrunk quite a bit thanks to the Russians.
I for one haven't really questioned their imperialist designs; just the ideology that drives those designs.
Pinging.