Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are “almost certainly” concerned about the ongoing impact of corruption on the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) capabilities and reliability, the US intelligence community (US IC) has said in a recently released assessment.
“Beijing will focus on building a fully modernised national defence and military force by 2035 and for the PLA to become a world-class military by 2049,” said an intelligence report, called The Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, published on March 11.
“In the meantime, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hopes to use the PLA to secure what it claims is its sovereign territory, to assert its preeminence in regional affairs, and to project power globally,” added the assessment, published by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) — a US government agency established in 2004 with the aim of integrating the country’s intelligence community.
However, the assessment indicated that the PRC would face significant challenges in meeting these goals. “PRC leaders almost certainly are concerned about the ongoing impact of corruption on the military’s capabilities and reliability, judging from a purge of high-level officers, including the defence minister in 2023,” said the intelligence report.
Xi’s military purge
After disappearing for months, Li Shangfu was abruptly, and without explanation, removed as China’s defence minister in October 2023. Li had previously headed the Equipment Development Department of the CCP’s Central Military Commission. Dong Jun, an ex-navy chief, took over as Li’s replacement.
Since taking power in 2012, Xi has embarked on a wide-ranging anti-corruption programme, with the PLA being one of its primary targets.
Li’s predecessor, Wei Fenghe, who had resigned in March 2023, had also disappeared from public sight in August that same year.
According to the US Naval Institute, Wei’s disappearance had come amid an investigation into corruption within the Rocket Force — a key arm of the PLA that oversees China’s tactical and nuclear missiles.
Wei was previously commander of the Rocket Force and became China’s defence minister in March 2018.
Reuters reported that when asked about Wei’s whereabouts in August 2023, a Chinese defence ministry spokesperson said that the military has zero tolerance for corruption and will crack down on every corrupt official.