Probably a diversion. The Chinese probably feel they need a war because their economy is about to implode due to their real estate ponzi scheme coming crashing down. But they need more than just airfields to take Taiwan. When you start seeing them massing ships and loading tanks on them, then it’s probably coming.
But Taiwan seems like such a small prize when they know the USA will likely interfere. Perhaps it will be a surprise attack on US forces and on the homeland if their desire is really to take Taiwan, or perhaps they’ll just continue to play games and hope that at some point India, the USA, or some country, will fire on them first.
This all presupposes that China hasn’t already made a deal with Biden to permit them to take Taiwan with a surprise attack—but hundreds of thousands of PLA soldiers will be cut down, as well as most of the ships that attempt to make the landing, loading with tanks and other equipment.