Xi Jinping's Anti-Corruption Crusade: Preparing the PLA for 2027

A US intelligence report reveals that Chinese President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign in the PLA aims to modernize the military for a potential Taiwan invasion by 2027. The report highlights widespread graft within China's government and the removal of top military officials due to discipline violations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's relentless battle against corruption in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is designed to ensure the military's readiness for a potential invasion of Taiwan by 2027, according to a newly declassified US intelligence report. Released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the report details extensive corruption among Chinese officials, estimating that up to 65% are involved in corrupt practices.

Initiated in 2012, Xi's sweeping anti-corruption campaign has seen nearly 5 million government officials face graft charges. The campaign has particularly targeted senior figures within the PLA, where a culture of pay-for-promotion allegedly persists. Notable figures dismissed include General Li Shangfu and Admiral Miao Hua, both of whom were accused of party discipline violations despite being seen as Xi's allies.

The report underscores concerns that corrupt practices could hinder the PLA's ability to meet Xi's directive to become a modern military by 2027, amid tensions over Taiwan. Defined as endemic, corruption in China is attributed to the concentration of power within the Chinese Communist Party and the lack of transparency and independent oversight. The findings, part of a report commissioned by the US Congress, mark the first official US documentation of Chinese leadership and CCP corruption, suggesting strategic priorities behind Xi's campaign.

(With inputs from agencies.)