On Friday, October 11th, the renowned missile expert Xiao Longxu of the Chinese Communist Party had his qualifications revoked by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Foreign experts speculate that a major incident has occurred within the Rocket Force, possibly affecting missile equipment capabilities due to corruption or intelligence leaks.
According to reports from the official Chinese state media Xinhua, Xiao Longxu, the former Chief Engineer and researcher at the Rocket Force Equipment Research Institute, has been dismissed from his position as a member of the CPPCC. However, the report did not specify the reasons for his dismissal.
At 62 years old, Xiao Longxu is a specialist in missile weapon control theory and engineering, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and a researcher at the Rocket Force Research Institute of the People’s Liberation Army. He has been engaged in missile weapon development theory and applied engineering research for a long time, winning numerous awards for his contributions to scientific research and innovation.
His profile has been removed from the Chinese Academy of Engineering website. Based on old photos on the internet, he held various positions in the Central Military Commission’s Science and Technology Committee and Equipment Development Department, making significant advancements in missile guidance and testing, contributing to enhancing the Rocket Force’s missile weapon combat capabilities.
The Rocket Force is responsible for China’s nuclear arsenal, established in 2015. Since 2023, the Rocket Force has become the focus of Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign within the military.
Prior to Xiao Longxu’s dismissal, at least eight former or current high-ranking officials of the Rocket Force had been arrested. In January 2024, another top rocket scientist, former Director of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, Wang Xiaojun, also had his CPPCC membership revoked.
In December 2023, Wu Yansheng, chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Liu Shiquan, chairman of China Ordnance Industries Group Corporation, and Wang Changqing, vice general manager of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation were all stripped of their CPPCC membership.
Mid-2023 saw reports of collective corruption within the Rocket Force, leading to the dismissal of former Commander Li Yuchao and political commissar Xu Zhongbo, as well as several military officers and senior executives from defense industry enterprises becoming embroiled in the scandal.
Researcher Lyle Morris from the New York think tank, Asia Society Policy Institute, commented on Xiao Longxu’s dismissal on social media, stating, “It is clear that a significant event has occurred within the PLA Rocket Force.” He added, “Corruption may have affected its missile or nuclear power capability/readiness, or there may have been intelligence leaks.”
At the end of September, the Chinese Rocket Force conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test in 44 years, launching a missile into the Pacific Ocean.
Morris has been closely monitoring developments within the Chinese military. In July 2023, when Commander Li Yuchao and political commissar Xu Zhongbo were replaced, Morris speculated that it was part of an anti-corruption campaign within the military, as Xi Jinping was concerned about the “absolute loyalty of the armed forces to him.”
In January 2024, Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that there is severe corruption within the Chinese Rocket Force and the entire defense industry base. One source highlighted examples of corruption within the Chinese military, such as missiles being filled with water instead of fuel, and missile launch silo covers in western China being unable to effectively launch missiles.
Furthermore, insiders revealed that the U.S. intelligence assessment considers internal corruption within the Chinese military, particularly the Rocket Force, has led to a decline in its overall capabilities. The pervasive nature of corruption has led U.S. officials to believe that this will diminish the likelihood of China considering major military actions in the near future.