China is merely expressing a universal truth, might makes right.
The Chinese bully their neighbors but when the US Navy sails by those artificial islands but they don't do shit, just pop their chops.
When the Japanese whalers would try to pass between Antarctica and South America the Chilean Navy would respond and the Japs would turn and run but the Chileans don't mess with US vessels.
The Russians are occupying lands that belong to Ukraine and Armenia because they can.
The Israelis are occupying lands that were formerly part of Egypt, Jordan and Syria, again, because they can.