There are two guys. One of them deliberately slightly offends the other.

A tense situation erupts. There is a stare down, but that is diffused by the assertive party offering to buy a beer.

Now the two are would be friends.

What is China doing? That would be my guess.

A British fleet is coming. Even though how nonsensical that really sounds, there still is a relevant point, that in the South China Sea, that is still open for people to stake a claim of who is going to be the dominant power in the area. The South China Sea is kind of big, so it is not easy to be the dominant power in the entire South China Sea, but people are going to try anyways.

This Chinese patrol of the South China Sea, is an invitation to the Malaysians and anyone else who is paying attention in ASEAN, let's patrol our neighbourhood together.

If ASEAN declines to assist in joint patrols of the neighbourhood, then China will continue to do it themselves. As just demonstrated.

Last thing anyone really expects is ASEAN to invite an outside power to the region, that might start war against ASEAN's biggest trading partner, which they all signed to the RCEP.

That is the Chinese invitation. Come do joint patrols for the region, as this is our region that we will need to develop together keeping sea lanes open. If ASEAN is not ready, China will do it themselves, to protect the sea lanes for all concerned.

The signing of RCEP is a big deal. That is the future for China and ASEAN. Both would have a strong interest in asserting their interests collectively over the South China Sea.

The interests of outsiders may not be benign to RCEP.