China's Military Shock: 'Missiles filled with water trigger Jinping's top-level purge'

China's armed forces faced severe corruption issues, including missiles filled with water instead of fuel and improperly sealed silo lids, according to US intelligence sources cited by Bloomberg. The revelations led Chinese leader Xi Jinping to remove over a dozen senior commanders in the People's Liberation Army (PLA), including Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who vanished for two months before being replaced in October.The corruption was particularly rampant in the Rocket Force, China's primary military branch overseeing nuclear weapons. The purge has raised concerns about the nation's ability to undertake major military actions, potentially impacting Xi's push to rapidly modernize Beijing's forces.The Rocket Force's significance in China's posturing toward Taiwan, highlighted by the deployment of long-range missiles threatening the self-governed island, was underscored. Despite satellite images revealing the construction of numerous nuclear-capable missile silos in Xinjiang in 2021, US intelligence noted corruption examples, such as poorly sealed silo lids hindering missile launches in Western China.The specific type of missiles filled with water was not disclosed in the report. The corruption issues are believed to have undermined Xi's modernization policies and confidence in the Rocket Force's capabilities.While Xi's purge had long been linked to his anti-corruption campaign, the exact reasons remained unclear. Among the dismissed commanders, at least three held key positions in the Rocket Force, and four were responsible for equipment, as reported by Reuters. The PLA, in its New Year's Day statement, emphasized the importance of vigilance against corruption, acknowledging the ongoing "battle against corruption."Despite the significant implications of the corruption scandal, the Chinese embassy in Washington did not provide immediate comments when approached by Bloomberg outside regular business hours. The situation raises questions about the internal stability and operational readiness of China's military forces.