An open letter calls for Zhang Youxia’s release. Leaks point to growing anger inside the PLA. Party elders are negotiating behind closed doors. This episode traces the escalating effort to free Zhang Youxia—and what it reveals about Xi Jinping’s weakening grip on China’s military. From unusual silence during New Year greetings to behind-the-scenes pressure from elite networks, the battle over one general exposes deeper fractures inside the CCP power structure. As rival camps maneuver, the question isn’t just Zhang’s fate—it’s who really controls the PLA.
