Xi Jinping inspects largely purged Rocket Force; calls for strengthening deterrence capabilities

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected a brigade of the military's strategic missile force that has suffered a massive purge of officials over corruption in recent years, according to a news report published Saturday.

Xi visited the rocket forces of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), a key branch of the military that operates missiles including nuclear weapons, in Hefei on Thursday, the official Xinhua news agency reported .

He urged the strategic missile troops to strengthen their deterrence and combat capabilities and resolutely carry out the tasks entrusted by the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the people, according to the report.

The Rocket Force, created in 2015 as part of Xi's military overhaul, has been at the center of the latest anti-corruption campaign targeting the military.

In addition to leading the ruling CPC and presidency, Xi, 71, also heads the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the Chinese military.

He visited the brigade's training ground, which has a history of more than 50 years, and learned about the tactical and technical performance of the newly introduced weapons and equipment, and reviewed its weapons handling training.

In a bid to boost the morale of officers and soldiers, he asked them to have good command and make best use of the weapons in hand while respecting the trust of the party and the people, according to the report.

Later, Xi was briefed on the brigade's work and delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of maintaining the party's absolute leadership over the armed forces and strengthening party building at the primary level.

His visit to Rocket Force, which operates the country's most powerful long- and short-range missiles, was seen as significant due to massive purges seen within the key military branch, driven by alleged corruption at its senior levels. in recent years.

Unspecified allegations against many of its officials included the use of substandard fuel for the missiles.

Many of its officers, including former Defense Minister General Li Shangfu, were summarily fired for alleged corruption.

General Li led the Rocket Force before being elevated to defense minister by Xi, who later fired him.

His successor, General Li Yuchao, who assumed the role of commander in 2022, was also removed following corruption accusations.

In July this year, the ruling Communist Party announced the opening of an anti-corruption investigation against General Sun Jinming, who led Rocket Force.

At least seven former and current senior military officials from the Strategic Missile Force have been the subject of anti-corruption investigations since last year.

Former Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe, who led Rocket Force from its inception until 2017 and then served as the country's defense minister from 2018 to 2023, was also recently expelled from the party for corruption .

Last month, Rocket Force made headlines after firing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean.

The launch tested weapon performance and military training effectiveness and achieved the desired objectives, the Defense Ministry said.

The missile fell in expected sea areas, he said, adding that this was a routine arrangement in the annual training plan and the countries concerned had been informed in advance.

This is the first time in 44 years that China has managed to successfully conduct an atmospheric test of an ICBM in the open sea. In May 1980, a first Chinese ICBM DF-5 traveled more than 9,000 km.