Xi continues top military purges

Water in Chinese missiles’ tanks is a fake story

The idea that water is substituted for fuel is preposterous: Corrosion-prone rockets are kept empty until needed

By STEPHEN BRYEN - JANUARY 9, 2024
asiatimes.com/2024/01/water-in-chinese-missiles-tanks-is-a-fake-story/

According to what Bloomberg News describes as a US intelligence report, Chinese authorities discovered that some of their missiles’ fuel tanks were filled with water – and that this was a marquee example of corruption whose unraveling led to Chinese President Xi’s recent military purge.

Bloomberg reported that it got the information from unnamed people who were “familiar with” a US intelligence assessment and that those US sources also said that new Xinjiang missile field silos were fitted with lids that were not installed properly and would not work – taken as another example of corruption.

Pentagon officials and “experts” are telling the press that the import of the twin tales is that China is weak and cannot fight. Yet the sources “familiar with” the intelligence say they cannot validate the information they provided Bloomberg.

The leaked “intelligence” that Bloomberg cites as its ultimate source leads inexorably to major questions. Under close examination the claims cited in the report seem to be fake.

The story is technically naive when it comes to China’s missiles. China does not keep its liquid-fueled rockets filled with propellant. This means they are empty sitting in silos. If fuel was stored in a rocket booster the internal tanks and plumbing would soon be ruined by corrosion. The military fuels them if there are warning conditions requiring loading the missiles with fuel.

There would be no reason to put water in the missiles unless it was deliberate sabotage. If it was deliberate sabotage China would not just be purging this or that official, they would have been arrested, tried and shot. Sabotage or destruction of strategic nuclear missiles is a very serious crime and would be met by the harshest measures. The idea that some officials would just be dismissed from their job is not a response to anything of this level of criminal significance. Those guilty of such crimes would be subjected to the harshest measures.

The second part of the story apparently is focused on the Hami missile field. The claim is that the lids of the silos are not fitted for operation. But if there were no missiles yet for these silos, there would be no reason to fit them to function with installed missiles. Unfortunately, we do not know the status of these missile fields at present, although the Pentagon may know.

Xi's purges are going to bite him in the butt, I'd bet. Soon the CCP's billionaires and millionaires will grow tired of his economic failures, financial failures, military purges, capital flow restrictions, business leader restrictions, real estate market collapses, and continuing 'corruption' purges to consolidate his power... all while China's economy continues its slowing growth under his tenure. 

And now this...

Xi Jinping sparks mutiny from within own military as WW3 fears erupt over Taiwan invasion

Story by Jacob Kessler - 15 Jan 2024

www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/xi-jinping-sparks-mutiny-from-within-own-military-as-ww3-fears-erupt-over-taiwan-invasion/ar-AA1n0fEt?ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&cvid=cd28e10af54b41e8a0232b9bc42ab0b3&ei=47

Chinese President Xi Jinping is locked in a power struggle with his own military, as he seeks to purge commanders he perceives as unwilling or unprepared for war, according to military analysts. The ongoing tension reflects Xi's efforts to assert control over the military and ensure its readiness for potential conflicts.

Since assuming power in 2012, Xi has implemented extensive military reforms, including personnel reductions, enhanced military-civilian cooperation, and structural reshaping.

The latest development occurred on December 29, 2023, when Xi dismissed nine senior officers, triggering speculation about the reasons behind the abrupt decision.

While corruption is often cited as a motive for such dismissals, Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, told Business Insider that Xi's primary focus is on removing officers who are hesitant about going to war. Chang points to instances like the suspension of Chinese Air Force General Liu Yazhou, who cautioned against a Taiwan invasion and received a suspended death sentence in 2022.

Joel Wuthnow, a senior research fellow at the National Defense University, told Business Insider that the removal of senior commanders aligns with Xi's concerns about the quality of personnel and equipment developed over the past decade. The dismissed officers were part of China's Rocket Force, a crucial component in potential military campaigns.

China has been involved in low-level hostilities with neighboring countries, including India, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

The heightened rhetoric, particularly concerning Taiwan, has raised concerns internationally. Xi's New Year's address emphasized China's determination for reunification. Furthermore, as reported by NBC, at Xi's meeting with President Biden, he indicated China's intention to take control of Taiwan.

While some argue that Xi may exercise caution following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Chang warns of the conditions for a third world war. With conflicts in various regions, Xi's actions could drag Western countries into a broader global conflict.

Chang told Business Insider: "Remember, in the 1930s, there were separate wars that merged into what we now call World War II. The same dynamics exist today, and it's entirely possible, and some people can even argue that it's probable that these will merge into a global conflict."

As tensions escalate and Xi Jinping consolidates power within the military, the international community watches closely, wary of the potential consequences of a China increasingly assertive on the global stage.