Yet another in a long, long list of reasons that China would only attack Taiwan as a last desperate measure to save a crumbling regime -- which is certainly possible.
Taiwan makes a useful bogeyman and patriotic rallying cry for the ChiComs. It takes the spotlight off their own serious internal social problems.
>>They couldn’t afford the humiliation of defeat. They’d be in it to win no matter what the cost.<<
I can see it now...
“Yes, Mr. President, but our simulations assured us the Chinese would quit within two weeks.”