Passive aggressive behavior is the worst to break someone of. It’s not typically to the level of any particular issue needing to be addressed and over time the person using the passive aggressive techniques will have adopted discussion patterns to deflect. “Can you point to a specific incidence where I was out of line.”
Sometimes you just have to jump in and say how it will be. No ifs, ands or buts. No excuses. This is the world you are in and this is how you will operate. It will be met with resistance and opposition because “they didn’t do anything wrong.” But the pattern itself is what needs adjusting – not any incidence.
Stick your nose in sometimes, it makes the air much clearer.