Flying beyond the median line does nothing to actually meaningfully defeat Taiwan independence, or promote reunification. Its still international waters according to global norms.
And the commotion with people running around to and from the ROC does nothing meaningful either. Between the two, military drills familiarizing with terrain and enemy tactics is far more useful. It's not that China has lost any deterrent against the West; China never had it. Before, it was seen as pointless to provoke a China that wasn't making the West uncomfortable. But now, things are very different. It's an extremely high-hanging branch for China, or anyone, to disallow a group of people from visiting another group of people unless said country had control over either group. If the Mainland took control of the ROC, that's game over. Rather, we are seeing these interactions between the ROC and Western nations not because China has lost any deterrent or anything, but it is because China has gained too much progress, in its national development, it's tech, it's economy, it's currency use and diplomacy, making the West fear for its future. Because it has no meaningful moves to counter China, it must reach for the lowest hanging fruit for spite, not utility, which is to uselessly visit and invite visits from the ROC officials. This is the temper tantrum; China's response is to make the best out of it and use it as an excuse to normalize more military activity around Taiwan Island.
