The potential for the Taiwan situation being used in a similar vein worries me too.Interesting theory PT. Yep, they have to keep reminding their people that they are the boss. If, as expected, the property market crashes, and the Chinese middle class lose the majority of their wealth...watch out!
1) A demonstration of strength, power, 'who's boss', aimed probably even more at the domestic audience than the global one.
2) A distraction from the likely wiping out of the middle class when financial meltdown comes.
3) A nationalistic galvanising force on the home front, to counter the fraying of societal fabric that would come from a catastrophic financial meltdown.
If Russia succeeds in running roughshod over Ukraine, with no interference from outside - which I think is the most likely scenario. China will be further emboldened and it strengthens the odds of something more tangible happening on the Taiwan front.