{"id":67521,"date":"2024-01-22T21:25:15","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T21:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2024\/01\/22\/corruption-in-chinas-military-is-no-excuse-for-american-complacency\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:02:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:02:21","slug":"corruption-in-chinas-military-is-no-excuse-for-american-complacency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/opinion\/2024\/01\/22\/corruption-in-chinas-military-is-no-excuse-for-american-complacency\/","title":{"rendered":"Corruption in China\u2019s military is no excuse for American complacency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We now have new revelations<\/a> of corruption in the Chinese People\u2019s Liberation Army resulting in, among other things, \u201cmissiles filled with water instead of fuel\u201d and missile silos \u201cwith lids that don\u2019t function.\u201d According to U.S. officials, this latest bout of corruption \u201cled to an erosion of confidence in the [PLA\u2019s] overall capabilities\u201d and made President Xi Jinping \u201cless likely to contemplate major military action.\u201d Xi responded by purging at least a dozen PLA leaders implicated in the scandal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This report is a reminder that the PLA faces significant challenges \u2014 and that the United States should use every opportunity to exacerbate those difficulties. But the United States should not use this episode as an excuse to grow complacent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The preponderance of evidence shows China\u2019s military is still modernizing rapidly, regardless of corruption. Moreover, even if Xi\u2019s confidence in the PLA took a hit last year, he is clearly committed to correcting deficiencies as quickly as possible, and there is a good chance he will succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mao Zedong said \u201cpower grows out of the barrel of a gun,\u201d and Xi Jinping clearly agrees. According to CIA Director William Burns<\/a>, Xi has directed the PLA to be ready<\/a> to seize Taiwan by 2027, and he has invested<\/a> China\u2019s resources accordingly. Not only did China prioritize defense spending over other investments during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it also reportedly spends far more<\/a> on defense than previously understood \u2014 perhaps as much as $700 billion per year<\/a>. At the same time, Xi is personally invested in keeping PLA modernization on track and has significantly improved oversight of the PLA to that end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The results are clear: The PLA is modernizing rapidly across warfighting domains. China\u2019s air forces<\/a>, for instance, will enjoy a significant numerical advantage near Taiwan and are increasingly capable<\/a>, with improving threat sensors and post-processing capabilities, airborne early warning and control aircraft<\/a>, fifth-generation fighters<\/a>, and long-range air-to-air missiles<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, China\u2019s naval force<\/a> is the world\u2019s largest<\/a>, with highly capable warships<\/a> and large paramilitary and civilian fleets<\/a> at its disposal. It is also still growing \u2014 quickly \u2014 while the U.S. Navy shrinks<\/a> by the year. Trends may also favor China in space<\/a>, cyberspace<\/a> and electronic warfare<\/a>, and Chinese military exercises<\/a> are increasingly sophisticated and realistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\t