Xi Jinping’s Battle Against Corruption in China’s Military

Introduction

Chinese President Xi Jinping is working hard to make sure China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), is loyal and free from corruption. Despite efforts over the past decade, Xi believes there are still problems that need fixing.

Recent Conference

From June 17-19, Xi held a meeting in Yan’an, a historic military base, to discuss these issues. He emphasized the need for the military to be loyal to the party and to remove corrupt elements.

Historical Context

Xi has been fighting corruption in the PLA since 2013. He has increased the power of inspectors and auditors to catch corrupt officials. However, corruption remains a big problem.

Recent Actions

In 2023, a corruption investigation began into the PLA’s Equipment Development Department (EDD), which handles a lot of money. High-ranking officials have been removed, including those in charge of China’s missiles and nuclear weapons.

Challenges and Concerns

Despite these efforts, corruption is deeply rooted in the PLA. Xi worries that the military might not be reliable in a crisis, especially when considering issues like the 2017 Doklam standoff with India and the spy balloon incident.

Future Implications

Xi’s focus on political loyalty might lead to less military training and more political activities. This could affect the PLA’s readiness for complex tasks, like a potential invasion of Taiwan.

Conclusion

Xi Jinping is determined to clean up the PLA, but the task is challenging. The future of China’s military depends on how well these reforms are implemented and whether the PLA can overcome its deep-seated issues.