The other, unmentioned difference is capability.
China is not capable of occupying Taiwan.
They can destroy it, but they can’t take it.
People say Russia cannot occupy the Ukraine.
“They can destroy it, but they can’t take it.”
I agree. Taiwan has a decent military, and China has to cross a hundred miles of ocean. And China does have that dam just sitting there. If the Chinese decide to utterly destroy Taiwan, the dam will go too, and China is over.
Although China can incinerate Taiwan, that defeats their objective. They want Taiwan intact, and will probably bide their time and buy off its politicians like they have bought off American politicians.
All those maps showing newly "occupied" parts of Ukraine are very deceptive. The Russians control some roads and towns, but there is no "front line." It's completely porous.
Even the big group north of Kiev ain't Zhukov's Belorussian Front.