One substantive reaction would be re-invigorating Tsai Ing-wen across the strait, at a time when the PRC is otherwise at the brink of getting the most mainland

One substantive reaction would be re-invigorating Tsai Ing-wen across the strait, at a time when the PRC is otherwise at the brink of getting the most mainland friendly President of Taiwan ever. That's likely playing a bigger role in motivating strategy than worries about Western responses.