Corruption scandal halts China’s military modernization: Pentagon

[Ryan Robertson]

CHINA IS TRYING TO MODERNIZE ITS MILITARY QUICKLY–BECAUSE ITS LEADER XI JINPING TOLD THEM TO BE READY TO TAKE TAIWAN BY 2027. BUT THAT PLAN IS FACING LOTS OF CHALLENGES–LIKE WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION WITHIN THE PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY.

A NEW PENTAGON REPORT SAYS BETWEEN JULY AND DECEMBER 2023, AT LEAST 15 SENIOR CHINESE MILITARY OFFICIALS AND DEFENSE INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR POSITIONS–MANY OF WHICH INCLUDED OVERSEEING KEY PROJECTS, LIKE CHINA’S ROCKET FORCE, WHICH MANAGES THE COUNTRY’S NUCLEAR AND MISSILE PROGRAMS.

AND THE ROCKET FORCE WAS RIFE WITH CORRUPTION–RESULTING IN, AMONG OTHER THINGS– A LACK OF FUEL FOR COOKING. SO, SOME TROOPS RESORTED TO STEALING ROCKET FUEL TO HEAT THEIR MEALS–I ACTUALLY REPORTED ON THAT BEFORE SO CHECK OUT THE STORY AT SAN.COM FOR ALL THE DETAILS.

PRESIDENT XI IS LEADING THE ANTI-CORRUPTION CRACKDOWN WITHIN CHINA’S MILITARY, U.S. OFFICIALS SAY THE INVESTIGATIONS COULD FURTHER DELAY MILITARY PROJECTS AND DISRUPT PROGRESS TOWARD CHINA’S 2027 MODERNIZATION GOALS, WHICH INCLUDE ADVANCING WEAPONS SYSTEMS AND PREPARING TO TAKE TAIWAN BY FORCE CIA DIRECTOR WILLIAM BURNS SAYS WHILE XI INSTRUCTED THE PLA TO BE READY BY 2027, THERE ISN’T A SOLIDINDICATION OF A SPECIFIC TIMELINE FOR THE INVASION.

CHINA’S DEFENSE MINISTRY DENIED SOME MEDIA REPORTS ABOUT ITS LEADERSHIP RESHUFFLE, CALLING THEM BASELESS. HOWEVER, IT ACKNOWLEDGED HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGED DISCIPLINARY VIOLATIONS. CHINA’S FOREIGN MINISTRY DISMISSED THE PENTAGON’S REPORT OUTRIGHT, CALLING IT BIASED AND AN EXCUSE FOR THE U.S. TO JUSTIFY ITS MILITARY EXPANSION.

DESPITE THE INTERNAL CHALLENGES, THE PENTAGON NOTES CHINA IS STEADILY ADVANCING ITS MILITARY MODERNIZATION. ITS DEFENSE BUDGET WAS ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN $330 BILLION AND $450 BILLION IN 2024. BEIJING IS PRIORITIZING HYPERSONIC WEAPONS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND ITS EXPANDING NAVY, WHICH IS NOW THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD BY NUMBER OF HULLS

HOWEVER, SLOWING ECONOMIC GROWTH MAY FORCE CHINA TO REASSESS ITS PRIORITIES AND THEIR TRADE-OFFS. U.S. OFFICIALS HIGHLIGHTED OPERATIONAL INEFFICIENCIES IN CHINA’S MILITARY, LIKEMISSILE SILO DOORS THAT DON’T OPEN, SUBMARINES THAT SINK WHILE DOCKED, AND OTHER DELAYED DEFENSE PROJECTS.

TAIWAN, MEANWHILE, CONTINUES TO TURN ITSELF INTO AN ISLAND FORTRESS AMID THE INCREASING MILITARY ACTIVITY FROM BEIJING. TAIWANESE OFFICIALS SAY THEIR GOAL IS TO DETER POTENTIAL AGGRESSION AND STRENGTHEN THEIR MILITARY CAPABILITIES IN RESPONSE TO ESCALATING TENSIONS IN THE REGION

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