Its just a dance both sides are doing.

China claim the straight and, under maritime law, if that’s accepted then it’s theirs. So, British etc. ships sail through it saying “what a lovely straight of water. I’m going to sail through here, as no one owns it.” If China doesn’t react, they have relinquished their claim to the straight. So, they have to follow up with “hey you, get off my lawn!” Every so often, the dance is repeated.

Nothing to worry about.

Wow, they’re gonna have a melt down when they hear about the people’s democratic republic or Korea.

I feel like you missed step one there, mate.

Just like the UK, it always has been. It really screws with the narrative of billionaires trying not to pay for the health, infrastructure and welfare that allows them to extract their wealth.

The first rule of colonisation is to make the colonised pay for their colonisation. It’s just that we all, collectively, forget that our governments colonise at home too.