Well I did participate in mandatory university/college run military instructions required for most college students, so that was why I got myself quite familiar with the Type-81-1 folding stock rifle and made some friends in the PAP. As with my experience though, I will say that I am a defensive realist when it comes to perspective for my country's foreign policy. Why, because I believe Mr. Hare should avoid any military conflicts until the PLA can achieve certain numerical and qualitative edge over its adversaries, namely the QUAD. In the meantime, since China is already surrounded by highly predatory and opportunistic adversaries (Mr. Chicken/crane, Mr. Bald-Head, Mr. Elephant, and Mr. Monkey all backed by Mr. Bald Eagle), it should avoid making new ones (such as encroaching into Mr. Hairy Bear's traditional sphere of influence in the short term).
In short, if the PLA could defeat the combined forces of Taiwan and the QUAD in a Waterloo-like battle (but much bigger scale), then my people could just sit back and enjoy Pax-Sinica. As tempting as such thoughts are for many Chinese citizens, there are many risks that could derail such wet dream.
Firstly, there is simply no guarantee that the QUAD would not use nuclear weapons if they face a conventional defeat, so it is vital for the PLA to reach nuclear parity with the US before pulling anything on Taiwan. This will take at least until 2025-2027, if not after 2030, when new plutonium facilities would be completed in Jiuquan. Secondly, as the U.S. military begin to field hypersonic intermediate range weapons starting in 2023, the Chinese military industrial complex would have to work hard to sustain the PLA's numerical advantage in this field, while keeping the associated costs down. That would require more smart defense spending that would bolster the PLA's advantages, but not waste money on systems that the PLA does not yet have an advantage (for example, the carrier and large warship programs may have to be delayed in favour of more hypersonic missiles, submarines, and J-20s). Thirdly, should there be a Taiwan contingency, China would be fighting a two-front war because India will surely take advantage of the crisis and try to take back Aksa Chin and provoke insurgencies in Tibet. This means a significant portion of the PLAAF would have to be reserved for usage on the Western Front. Finally, China does not have any reliable treaty allies right now. Therefore, it is time for China to try to use its economic influence to woo Pakistan and North Korea with hope of upgrading relations with these two countries into alliances where the two could lend support to China should Beijing enter into a fight with QUAD.
In general, I just think China is not yet prepared to take up such fight over Taiwan, which would mean the life or death to the People's Republic. However, time is still on Beijing's side, and it needs start mobilizing for it militarily, diplomatically, and economically. And don't start a war unless you are prepared.
