They are desperated because they will lose big to Republicians. This huge humilation of China will give them some points to satisfy some blood thirst constituents to vote for them.  I mean the leader of Democrats stand up against China in Taiwan. How powerful is that! China has to appease its angry mass too. They hold drills around Taiwan. If there is a war, it always comes as a surprise. not standoff. Probably before leaving Malaysia Taiwan, they already let China know not to incept.