There's a better article about it in the WSJ of all places https://archive.is/48m3F

Missing from both is that Zhang Youxia was the last senior PLA leader to have seen frontline action in the Sino-Vietnamese war.

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dragonelite 2 hours ago | parent [-]

Vietnam frontline experience is irrelevant in 2026, when its more drone dominated.

Im sure China has plenty of observers/volunteers embedded at the Russian side in the SMO making plenty of notes, reports, and get modern warfare experience..

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largbae 2 hours ago | parent [-]

All frontline experience is valuable. It reminds the leader that in war, real people, people on your own side, people that you know, people that you will miss, will die.

	▲	smallmancontrov an hour ago \| parent [-]
		and in this case the particulars match the archetype: my understanding is that Zhang was the "dove" while Xi is the "hawk." The hawk just ate the dove. We're going to war.