Chinese President Xi Jinping’s decade-long anti-corruption campaign within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is reportedly not just about cleaning up governance but is part of a larger strategy to modernise the military and prepare for a possible invasion of Taiwan by 2027, according to a US intelligence report, as cited by Taiwan newspaper.

The report, released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), suggests that the PLA has been plagued by corruption, particularly a pay-for-promotion culture, which has hindered its efficiency. Xi’s crackdown on corrupt officials is reportedly aimed at ensuring loyalty and strengthening the military for future conflicts, with Taiwan as a key focus.

Intelligence assessments indicate that China aims to build a fully modernised and combat-ready military by 2027, aligning with Xi’s vision of ‘reunification’ with Taiwan – by force if necessary.

Analysts reportedly suggest that Jinping sees corruption as a major obstacle to the PLA’s war readiness and wants to eliminate weak links before escalating military action in the Taiwan Strait.

The removal of top military officials, including General Li Shangfu, China’s former Minister of National Defense, and Admiral Miao Hua, who was responsible for enforcing political loyalty within the PLA, underscores the urgency of this restructuring. Despite a decade of efforts, corruption reportedly remains a major concern, raising questions about the PLA’s preparedness for large-scale military operations.

Amid increasing Chinese military drills around Taiwan, US and allied forces are closely monitoring Beijing’s aggressive moves in the Indo-Pacific.

Experts suggest that Xi’s anti-corruption drive, while framed as an internal reform effort, is ultimately about strengthening China’s military grip and eliminating internal dissent before launching a full-scale attack on Taiwan, as per reports.