A few things China cannot factor into this little equation.
A *FEW* of the more salient are:
WHO is running the country? By now SOMEONE other than sleepy geriatric JOE MUST have the codes to the football otherwise *WHEN* he dies in his sleep we'd be open/ dead in the water. This is VERY VERY VERY unlikely.
WHERE are the boomer subs? Can be anywhere in a few days, but with this sable rattling and show of force around the SE see, they SHOULD ASSUME there are a few in the vicinity. They might not be, joe being the anti-american POS that he is, but they should sure as hell assume it.
What countries will join in and on which side? Australia, the Philippines, SK, Japan, pretty much every neighbor to China hates them.
What will Russia do? Nuetral? Attack china- their biggest regional competitor? Attack the US-as they may have plans together, or will they double cross china, and let them smolder?
Too many unknowns. and "Xi" may be saying "reunification" for political and face saving reasons, when in reality he is about the 3rd most powerful person in the world (after US pres & Putin.. maybe tied with putin..) He has a LOT to lose, is reaching his golden years, has family and loved ones.... do you really think HE REALLY THINKS the CCP would come out of a global fracas? They wouldn't. If shit went thermal they'd be so far under ground they have to use a bat's ass for light. I don't think Xi wants to spend his last good years in a musty cellar or worse. It would not be quick. Would not be pretty, and would not be decisive.
The commies decided and implemented a LONG time ago, they would take us from WITHIN.