CNN
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The Pentagon said in a new report released Wednesday that a widespread anti-corruption campaign within the senior levels of China’s military and government is hampering its military buildup drive by 2027.
“In the second half of 2023 alone, at least 15 senior military and defense industry executives were removed from their posts for corruption…This series of corruption-related investigations and removals of senior leaders has hindered (the People’s Liberation Army’s) progress. “There is a possibility that we will reach the 2027 target,” a senior defense official told reporters this week at a briefing on the China Military Power Report, an annual report to Congress that outlines China’s military and security developments. .
The official said the campaign is “already having some impact” as the Pentagon continues to track its impact on military power development and acquisition, as well as large construction projects and personnel. , adding that it would “inevitably” be brought up again.
The report also says that China is “almost certainly” learning from Russia’s war in Ukraine and applying those lessons to its approach to Taiwan. In particular, a senior defense official said China aims to “advance its goals” in the intelligence sector and sees sanctions against Russia as a sign that China needs to become more self-reliant to withstand additional sanctions.
The report also said China has an estimated 600 operational nuclear warheads, an increase of about 100 since the report was published last year. The report states that China will have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030, a senior defense official said, which is consistent with previous assessments, but that China will have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads after 2030. There is no doubt that Japan will continue to expand and modernize its military capabilities.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has laid out an ambitious plan to “modernize” the People’s Liberation Army by 2035 and transform it into a “world-class” military by mid-century. U.S. officials believe that President Xi has instructed the People’s Liberation Army to be ready to invade the autonomous island of Taiwan by 2027, but stress that this does not mean an invasion will occur in 2027. There is.
But amid such pressure, Mr. Xi is increasingly antagonizing members of his own government and grappling with dishonesty within the government, CNN reported. In fact, the Pentagon report pinpoints numerous recent incidents in which senior military, government, and defense industry officials have been fired or investigated.
For example, in November, a senior military official believed to be close to Xi Jinping was suspended and investigated on corruption charges. The official also said that while senior figures within the Chinese military have received the most attention, personnel are being purged “at all levels.”
Wednesday’s report said China’s political leaders likely viewed the anti-corruption campaign as a necessary tool to build a professional fighting force as part of the People’s Liberation Army’s 2027 modernization goals. “There is,” he said.
But its “frequent turnover and changes in senior officials” are particularly impacting the PLA’s 2027 goals, a senior defense official said. For example, in large construction projects or the defense industry, a turnover of that size could delay projects, officials said.
Experts say corruption, especially within the defense industry, is relatively unsurprising, given China’s relentless focus on expanding its procurement of weapons systems and warships. Victor Shi, a political science professor at the University of San Diego, previously told CNN that there are ample opportunities for corruption in the PLA Navy’s modernization drive alone.
“When you discover corruption in one place, or the involvement of one senior official, it creates a bit of a spiral effect that inevitably attracts additional officials,” the official said. They added that Xi is unlikely to abandon the anti-corruption campaign as it has been a “hallmark of his tenure”.
“I think they recognized that this was something that posed a huge risk to their political credibility and ultimately to the operational capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army. So I have no doubt that they will continue their anti-corruption campaign. I hope so,” the official said.
CNN’s Nectar Gan contributed to this report.
