Xi Jinping's campaign against military corruption expands amid new allegations, as doubts about the stability of the Chinese army grow
The magnitude of the dismissals raises questions about the depth of the problems within the Chinese Armed Forces. According to previous reports cited in the information, U.S. intelligence agencies have detected serious flaws in some Chinese missile silos, including defective covers. There have also been reports of allegations that some missiles may have been filled with water instead of fuel, issues that analysts link to possible corrupt practices in the military and defense sector.
The Rocket Force was created in 2015 when the regime transformed the former Second Artillery Force as part of a broad military reform. Its mission is to control China's land-based ballistic missiles, including conventional and nuclear systems, so any corruption within this structure could have significant consequences for the country's military capabilities.
Currently, the commander position remains vacant after Wang Houbin was dismissed in 2025 due to corruption allegations and serious disciplinary violations. Before him, generals Wei Fenghe, Zhou Yaning, and Li Yuchao, who successively led the Rocket Force between 2015 and 2023, were expelled from the Party and the army and stripped of their ranks due to similar allegations.
The regime of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has expanded its campaign against corruption within the Armed Forces by publicly requesting that citizens and members of the military sector report irregularities related to the procurement of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF), in a new sign that the extensive purge driven by dictator Xi Jinping continues to deepen.
The PLARF published a notice on August 24 on its procurement portal to gather information about possible violations committed during contracting processes of the Rocket Force, the branch responsible for nuclear and conventional land-based ballistic missiles.
The call is directed at suppliers, experts involved in evaluations, agencies and bidding representatives, as well as other officials involved in military contracting processes. Authorities are seeking information about irregularities related to pre-acquisition services for materials, engineering projects, food supplies, medical equipment and consumables, and other operations managed through contracting agencies.
The investigation covers practically the entire procurement process, from planning requirements and evaluating bids to executing contracts and purchases made online. Unlike a call issued in 2023, which encompassed all military branches and primarily focused on the acquisition of weapons and equipment, the new initiative is specifically directed at the Rocket Force and expands scrutiny to everyday logistics supplies and services.
Authorities will accept reports through a special hotline until November 30, 2026. The notice does not establish a specific period for the alleged irregularities, allowing investigations to cover events that occurred over a considerably broad timeframe.
The announcement is particularly relevant due to the situation of the Rocket Force, which is at the center of one of the largest military purges undertaken under Xi.
