The US Department of Defense revealed in an annual report on the Chinese military issued today (Wednesday), that corruption in the Chinese military is likely to hinder the progress in achieving the goals of military modernization for 2027, according to the agency “Reuters”.
Since last year, the Chinese military has undergone a comprehensive anti-corruption purge, and last month the Defense Ministry in Beijing announced the suspension and investigation of a senior military official for “serious violations of discipline rules”.
The Pentagon’s expanded report said that the period from July 2023 to December of the same month saw at least 15 high-ranking Chinese military officers and defense industry executives dismissed from their posts.
US officials, including the head of the CIA, have said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the military to prepare for an invasion of Taiwan by 2027.
The Pentagon noted that China’s official modernization goals by 2027 include accelerating the integration of intelligence, mechanization and other tools while enhancing the speed of modernization of military plans, personnel, weapons and equipment.
In a press briefing, a senior US defense official, who requested anonymity, said that corruption has already had an impact on the Chinese military because the removal of senior officials can be troublesome, and the quest to expose corruption itself can slow down military projects, including in the defense industry.
