China's missile forces must strengthen their combat capabilities and deterrence potential. Leader Xi Jinping appealed for this during an inspection in one of the brigades in Anhui province. The missile forces, which have, among other things, nuclear weapons, have been included in an “anti-corruption campaign”, which, according to some experts, is a political purge.
During the inspection on Wednesday, Xi stressed the need to “resolutely fulfill the tasks entrusted by the Party and the people” and “promote high-quality force-building development,” state news agency Xinhua reported. He also stressed the importance of “maintaining the party's absolute leadership over the armed forces.”
Calls for increased combat readiness
The Missile Forces of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) were established in early 2016 from the transformation of the 2nd Artillery Corps at the request of Xi Jinping. They are responsible for, among others: for long-range missiles, including nuclear weapons.
Xi, who also heads the Central Military Commission, has repeatedly called for increased combat readiness and technological progress ahead of the PLA's 100th anniversary in 2027.
After taking power in 2012, Xi launched a broad crackdown on corruption among members of the Communist Party. China (CCP), government and army. He said that ensuring party discipline and restoring its absolute leadership in the ranks of the PLA is the “political guarantee” the military needs to achieve its goal of becoming a “world-class” army by 2050.
Chinese army exercisesReuters
Purges in the missile forces
Since the middle of last year, the anti-corruption campaign, which according to some experts is a political purge, has also covered the missile forces. Last August, top management was dismissed in what the BBC called “the biggest unplanned reshuffle of China's military command in a decade.”
In a short statement, Xinhua announced the dismissal of generals Li Yuchao and Liu Guangbin, without giving reasons. Both generals had not been seen in public for weeks. In July of that year, Li and another officer of these forces, Sun Jinming, were expelled from the CPC Central Committee (Central Committee).
The deputy commander of the navy, General Wang Houbin, was appointed as commander. In turn, the new political commissar of the unit, who supervises political discipline and ideological instruction, is Xu Xisheng, a member of the CPC Central Committee.
Chinese missiles in action. Illustrative photo
Xi focuses on the loyal
Some commentators pointed out that replacing the generals with officers with no experience suggests that Xi values ​​loyalty to himself over experience and is thus trying to strengthen his power over the army.
In March 2023, Wei Fenghe, who was previously the commander of the 2nd Artillery Corps, resigned from the position of Minister of Defense. He was investigated on corruption charges in September and expelled from the CCP in July.
Last December, nine generals were removed from their positions in the Chinese parliament, including the five most senior commanders of the missile forces, as well as a former commander of the Air Force and several officials of the Central Military Commission responsible for weapons procurement and development. In these cases, the reasons for their removal from their positions remained unclear.
In turn, at the end of January this year, Wang Xiaojun, a key scientist responsible for the success of China's military and civilian missiles, was dismissed from his prestigious position at the People's Political Consultative Conference of China.