Reunification is like having a child for China. China will never be 100% ready for it, just like no people are 100% ready for having a child until they do it. It will always be a decision with huge consequences for China. My thoughts on itSir do you think the Chinese will invade? until her vulnerabilities has been address then we have to wait until eternity. From my perspective it will take time for China to decouple at most 3 years if the urgency dictate, the inflection point is 2025. That year should be mark as the day China achieved near parity with the US. There is NO illusion among all Chinese the threat they will be facing, the Zero Covid lockdown, the No Food Wastage Campaign and the brownouts are all preparation for that eventuality. In Geopolitical Arena 3 years is enough time for Russia and China to coordinate their policy especially combining the Eurasia Economic Union with that of BRI and establishing a basket of currency to replace the dollar. A Chinese proverb that encapsulate the current situation in Taiwan "Only one who can swallow an insult is a man the one dishing it is a Child"
Reasons for waiting
1- Shrinking Taiwanese youth
2- The growing Chinese economy
3- Currently existing industrial dependencies on imports (though how important are they for the Chinese state really?)
4- Increasing Chinese military power in relation to the USA. This is on a totalistic basis.
5- USD reserves of China
Reasons for invading ASAP
1- The legal basis for reunification is disappearing. International organizations and the UN Charter are losing power and Taiwan is becoming a sovereign nation in all but name.
2- Japanese and Taiwanese military power may actually start increasing in relation to China soon. They are quite demilitarized societies. Especially Taiwan is currently a joke. They can easily increase their power relative to China.
3- This one is tied to the second one. Taiwanese military and people may actually get "Ukrainized" by the USA. That means months-long urban battles and total destruction of Taiwan during reunification. (This is a good enough reason on its own)
4- The US military even though is losing ground on a totalistic basis, it is increasing its presence in Asia-Pacific. It is also reorganizing itself for high-end battles. China currently has to deal with only ~10-15% of the USAF. This won't be the case in 2035.
5- Taiwanese identity is becoming stronger. (This is a good enough reason on its own too)
I will be dead honest, if I was the decision maker I'd opt for it being done in 3-4 years