I think it probably could be fairly defined as either but I would also grant you that they could be considered to have much different goals as a whole than Western militaristic and expansionary endeavours and that, generally speaking, they balance those goals against a wider group or population than you would see the West doing.

Are they happy to expand into contested zones? Absolutely. Will they make shows of force to do so? Absolutely. If it means a protracted military solution though then that's not going to happen, they're not interested. They will attempt to find a commercial solution or they will just wait for an opportunity over a very long period of time.