New military leadership appointments show China is bracing itself for conflict

BEIJING - In the clearest sign yet that China is bracing itself for a possible showdown with the United States over Taiwan, an overage People's Liberation Army (PLA) general with combat experience was re-elected as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) on Sunday. President Xi Jinping bent the unwritten "seven up, eight down" rule for General Zhang Youxia, 72, a veteran of the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and one of a handful of PLA generals with combat experience. Gen Zhang, previously the CMC's second-ranked vice-chairman, was elected first vice-chairman of the commission and retained his seat in the 24-member Politburo…