US intelligence indicates that President Xi Jinping’s sweeping military purge came after it emerged that widespread corruption undermined his efforts to modernize the armed forces and raised questions about China’s ability to fight a war, according to people familiar with the assessments.
  • China missiles filled with water, not fuel: US intelligence
  • Xi seeking to root out corruption, prepare military for combat

US intelligence indicates that President Xi Jinping’s sweeping military purge came after it emerged that widespread corruption undermined his efforts to modernize the armed forces and raised questions about China’s ability to fight a war, according to people familiar with the assessments.

The corruption inside China’s Rocket Force and throughout the nation’s defense industrial base is so extensive that US officials now believe Xi is less likely to contemplate major military action in the coming years than would otherwise have been the case, according to the people, who asked not to be named discussing intelligence.

  • falcunculus@jlai.luEnglish
    271·
    11 months ago

    War isn’t inevitable. Back in the cold war it was averted multiple times, and the USSR had a much more closed economy than China’s. China going to war with NATO would lose them all their largest trading partners.

    • Blackmist@feddit.ukEnglish
      22·
      11 months ago

      They don’t want a war with NATO. But they might want to invade Taiwan which pretty much everybody in NATO kind of agrees is sort of China’s anyway. Only a handful of nations recognise Taiwan as sovereign, and they ain’t coming to the rescue.

      We don’t really want them to take Taiwan, but the only bargaining tool we have to stop them is the threat of stopping trade. And as far as I can tell, the main reason we don’t recognise Taiwan is because we don’t want China to stop trade either.

    • DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafeEnglish
      1115·
      11 months ago

      No one builds a trillion dollar navy without intending to use it, but sure.

      It might not happen.

      In a world that solves its energy crisis and stops climate change.

      • Risk@feddit.ukEnglish
        211·
        11 months ago

        Surely they intend to use it the same way the US does - projecting force to cement soft power?

          • xor@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
            6·
            11 months ago

            Taiwan, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Australia, Thailand, Myanmar.

            Do I need to keep going?

            The key for them, really, is being able to ensure they have naval access through the strait of Malacca

              • Risk@feddit.ukEnglish
                1·
                11 months ago

                Yes, those things create friction with the US.

                However, I’m sure China will grow to use their navy to project control of their Belt-And-Road initiatives. You bet they’ll be working to prop up governments that will reap the profit from their investments down the line, than allow rebellious groups or hostile neighbouring states to threaten those interests.