US Intelligence Shows Flawed China Missiles Led Xi to Purge Army

 via Bloomberg

US intelligence indicates that President Xi Jinping’s sweeping military purge came after it emerged that widespread corruption undermined his efforts to modernize the armed forces and raised questions about China’s ability to fight a war, according to people familiar with the assessments.

The corruption inside China’s Rocket Force and throughout the nation’s defense industrial base is so extensive that US officials now believe Xi is less likely to contemplate major military action in the coming years than would otherwise have been the case, according to the people, who asked not to be named discussing intelligence.

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This could be the opening we need.  If this reporting is true then that puts Taiwan on the backburner.  We have a FEW extra years to either (1) get ready or (2) attempt a diplomatic solution.

Oh and before you laugh, understand that our own MIC is jacked up and corrupt as hell too.

This is an opportunity.

Another chance to avert an extremely destructive war for both sides.

Understand this though.  If we're gonna try to take a different path we have to move quickly.  That corruption is gonna be rooted out poste haste.  They will be brutal and efficient. The long arm of China's law will scoop up many.  Many will be guilty and a few innocents will suffer too, but it will be done to sort this out on their side.

A bonus report talking about China's economy.

via CNN

 China’s businesses are struggling and job seekers have trouble finding work, President Xi Jinping acknowledged during his Sunday New Year’s Eve speech.

This is the first time Xi has mentioned economic challenges in his annual New Year’s messages since he started giving them in 2013. It comes at a critical juncture for the world’s second largest economy, which is grappling with a structural slowdown marked by weak demand, rising unemployment and battered business confidence.

Acknowledging the “headwinds” facing the country, Xi admitted in the televised speech: “Some enterprises had a tough time. Some people had difficulty finding jobs and meeting basic needs.”

“All these remain at the forefront of my mind,” Xi said in remarks which were also widely circulated by state media. “We will consolidate and strengthen the momentum of economic recovery.”

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