it is possible and necessary to talk about such a conflict, since its probability is not zero.
To begin with, let's look at the reasons for the possible causes of this potential conflict?
If you dig history, then China's claims to "ownership" dissolve, because. if China takes the starting point when the PRC transferred the Republic of China (yes, that's what it is called, but the word China is not a synonym for the PRC) under external control (but was not included in the PRC), then the question arises - why consider this date as a starting point? In a word, delving into history is useless. But there is another side of the coin. These are China's problems. There are many of them - from an unstable economy, internal tensions, and potential degradation of the export-oriented, and technologically dependent on the West, economy. And to keep a semi-totalitarian state, you need to show a "beautiful picture." But it's difficult .. At least by the fact that after some "vybryki" China, the United States abruptly began to curtail projects where China is supplied with American high technology. Yes, it will look a little funny, but China without Western technology is again an agrarian China of the mid-20th century! Therefore, one of China's directions is to seize high technologies, and even more so in such a sector as microprocessor solutions. Well, in order to "kill two birds with one stone" - to show that Beijing is a powerful country, whose opinion and whose desires in the region are LAW. Taiwan fits this role PERFECTLY. But there are nuances
1. The people of Taiwan categorically do not want to become a province of China and bring them an invaluable gift in the form of their microprocessor segment.
2. The independence of Taiwan is supported by the United States and many other strong Western countries.
3. So-called. Russia's "special operation" to seize Ukraine "by right of the strong" failed, and China saw that the world "thanks" to Russia united against such threats. China did not just choose a passive role in today's terrorist war of Russia against Ukraine - for it, the victory of Russia would become a PRECEDENT, and the whole world would swallow the fact that this can be done. But it didn't work out. The world has shown that such terrorist attacks will be stopped.
4. China understands that in case of aggression against Taiwan, sanctions similar to those against Russia will be applied to it.
5. But the Chinese government has almost no alternative to divert the attention of more than 1 billion Chinese from pressing issues, except for a military conflict with Taiwan, which will clearly escalate into a larger one.
In any case, even if China succeeds, China will not get what it wants. He will definitely not receive technology (during the hostilities, this will all be destroyed). China will probably get islands with completely destroyed infrastructure, without a population (I'm sure most of the productive population will leave for the nearest countries / USA). China will receive sanctions and the label of a pariah, along with Russia, North Korea, Iran and a couple of other inadequate countries.
Victory ? Unless it's a Pyrrhic victory...
An alternative option is an agreement on the entry of Taiwan, as an Autonomous Republic, into the PRC, with broad autonomy and guaranteed security, with external control over the implementation of the agreements. To me, this is the most logical way.
It all really depends on which path China chooses...