There is no point to guessing why you are blocked. Just consider it is a False-Positive case.

Making Google less reliable is part of the tactic to discourage people in the mainland China using Google. This kind of incidents occurred so many time in last eight years.

Just do it, and don't talk about it, this is how CCP has been doing such things.

slap on the wrist?

That sounds more correct, thanks Paul :)

This comes on the heels of an incident in the South China Sea with a US Navy ship.

What? So what do you say on the Gmail problem for many days? Don't blame others, Google. It doesn't make sense.

Maybe a very specific reason exists. Wouldnt dare to guess without mapping up other things that have happened during the time and exists which part of Google that was affected.

One thing to note is the possibility for the communist party to block one service and check the affect on activity for something else. And from that draw conclusion if the democrati-moment use here Google as communication infrastructure.

But I would make a qualitified guess that the moment still is quite good at keeping their communication fully hidden and that is doesnt depend on anything specific. Going outside core for regular internet users which might make critique about the tyranns on the internet it becomes another question.