Emphasis here is on the word "deterrent." It is a horrible last resort option. You don't want to use it, but you want the enemy to know that you will if cornered.
Seriously, it is a horrible option. The loss of life is estimated to be between 150 to 250 millions. Shanghai, with a population count of half of California, will be permanently under water. Dozens of major cities will be gone permanently. No sane person will want to be responsible for that.
Solution/deterrant? Emm, I was quite clear that it's name is USA, in all it's forms, from demonstratively sailing carriers through the straits to attacking China in case of invasion.
IIRC Taiwan's defence strategy even is based on holding out until America comes to their aid. Imagine if they do not do that - not an impossible scenarion, especially with current state of internal USA politics. That should make a point regarding Rasulis ideas.
As I said I believe that in 10 years time the "question" of Taiwan will be "resolved". Deterrants or not, all that buildup and propaganda has to go somewhere.
If they plan to take over Taiwan from the inside, they need to hurry before all the old Koumintangs are dead.
A Per research on how Taiwanese feel about China and US.
In Taiwan, Views of Mainland China Mostly Negative - Closer Taiwan-U.S. relations largely welcomed, especially economically
The younger generation do not identify as Chinese anymore, and the way China treats Hong Kong is a warning on the perils of trusting the CCP.
Yes, I am aware that each year identity of "Taiwanese" and wish for official independence increases. They are majority already, PRC can't catch that train anymore, unless something really drastic changes.
China really shot itself in the foot with Hong Kong in regards to trying to convince Taiwan to reunify. There is zero chance they will believe the CCP will keep their word about sticking to a one country two systems agreement. Which leaves the CCP only one option if they are going to fulfil their promise to take Taiwan by the 100th anniversary of CCP rule.
Taiwan is the modern day version of the Sudetenland. - giving in and appeasing the CCP over it will just embolden them even more and will lead to a war.
And it turns out stoking hyper-nationalism makes you really bad sports, as the Olympics are showing. They are not taking losses easy, labelling referees as cheats, abusing athletes from other countries online, abusing their own athletes who lost for not being sincere enough in their grovelling apologies. It is bad enough when they loose to Japan, but when they lost to Taiwan, it went up to new level.