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I do not think Zhang Youxia was working with the U.S. There were reports he was arrested for other reasons.

The radio show I was listening this after noon said that U.S. Observers...e.g., the NYT, are acting as propaganda outlets for the CCP. They view Xi as a moderate restraining the military. The host said that in reality Xi wants to move on Taiwan and this would be his legacy, but The military, pretty much all of whom he appointed in the last year or so, did not.

This has an English Transcript with a lot of detail on histories and power struggles within the military up to the current time.

China Insight; Zhang Youxia Arrested: Gunfight Erupts at Hotel, Details Rivalling Hollywood Blockbusters

and the more sensational:

China Observer: Zhang Youxia’s Family Captured! 1,000 Military Officers Detained! General Flynn: Coup in China

Something is going on or went on. May have been a failed coup, may still be ongoing.

L.P. What do you think?

Pete, I must confess that I haven't been following the goings on in West Taiwan the way I have in the past.

I have been mostly focusing on getting through the day. I have an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow afternoon about my right knee. I had a torn meniscus repaired in 2009. It probably needs some more attention.

In the mean time I have been getting used to using a cane. It does seem to help. Unfortunately it means that I now have to use one of the mobility buggies at Publix. I managed to stay out of them for 15 years but I think I am now stuck with them. Crap.

To try and answer your question, calling CCP internal politics Byzantine is a gross over simplification. This is one of the reasons I have never been a fan of "The Chinese are going to take over the world" narrative. West Taiwan has so many internal problems Somalia feels sorry for them.

SpyNavy

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)