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.
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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.

    • wizzorEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      I agree with you in principle, but in a world where some countries do possess nuclear weapons, the calculus is a lot more complex.

      In addition, possession of a nuclear weapon appears to be a comparatively effective way to quarantee territorial integrity. Would Russia have started their war of aggression in Ukraine if the Ukrainians still had nuclear capability?

      I have concluded that like all technology, there is a responsible and irresponsible way of having these weapons. It’s a technology that’s surely more trouble than it’s worth, but the genie is out and since it is, it’s worthwhile to recognise the responsible ways of using it.