"USN sends a lone destroyer near one of “their islands” and the Chinese military along with their diplomatic corps go ape ****. U.K. sends a carrier battle group and the Chinese don’t even take notice, nah, don’t buy it."
that's because the "lone destroyer" is backed by the whole might of the USN and USA. A British CBG is much smaller that a US one, will have a dozen or so strike aircraft and represents about 50% of the whole UK navy.
Racedo is right here - it's politicians willy-waving and it would have the same outcome as 1941