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It's a strategically ambiguous statement, as it doesn't specify the alternative if China continues to maintain a belligerent stance. Tsai's statement could range from "We will capitulate if attacked" to "We will acquire nuclear weapons to ensure an armed conflict is unwinnable". With a lot of possibilities in between.
I’m glad she thinks that but China has made it abundantly clear it is an option and they should take it as such, which they obviously do because they’ve been buying a lot of military equipment.
I suspect this statement is just meant to calm any tensions inside the country. >

Optics as well. If (when) China decides to punch Taiwan in the face in an idiotic gambit that will only hasten its collapse, Taiwan's government will be able to say that they were attacked without provocation, and that such an attack was totally unjustified Chinese aggression