Long before the naval drill itself in the South China Sea

Here a way of approach that appears so innocuous and un-aggressive. China and Russia are going to have a combined naval drill:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2016-09/14/c_135686195.htm

This is what is known as an adumbration of what is to come.
People with culture do things by an adumbrative approach as a first step. 
When you recognize that, you now know, that the WHOPPER will follow.