It will give PLA a rare chance to test its weapons, soldiers and the logistics system. It will also give China a rare chance to solidify its influence in the neighboring countries, educates itself on handling the occupation, foreign presence, etc., and the taste of being a responsible emerging international political/economic/military power. That is the experience that China has lost over the last 100 years.

That will be a risk, but all in all, it is, fortunately, in a controllable and scaled down environment.