Signs of civil strife in the Chinese military

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On September 12, massive fireballs lit the skies over Weifang, while tanks rolled through Tangshan and explosions rocked Shijiazhuang. Analysts linked these PLA live-fire drills to the 80th and 82nd Group Armies, forces loyal to Zhang Youxia, signaling pressure on Beijing itself. But the following day, Xi Jinping’s camp responded. The Eastern Theater Command released a propaganda song, “Plant the Flag of Victory on Taiwan,” showcasing amphibious landings and missile strikes on Taipei. The timing suggests dueling messages: Zhang’s faction flexing around Beijing, and Xi’s faction brandishing the Taiwan front. Far from unity, the PLA is now split by politics.

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