For the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), 2024 was a tumultuous year marked by the arrest of numerous senior military officials as part of a comprehensive anti-corruption drive. The Central Commission on Discipline Inspection (CCDI), under President Xi Jinping's guidance, extended its crackdown beyond the upper echelons of the PLA's uniformed branches to include members of even China's Central Military Commission (CMC), the highest military command organisation in the country. In November, Xi's long-term loyalist and CMC member Admiral Miao Hua's arrest sent shockwaves through the entire PLA leadership.
Despite this upheaval in its hierarchy, the PLA significantly expanded its arsenal this year, adding a vast amount of military equipment and advanced weapon platforms to its inventory. This paradox of pervasive corruption alongside enhanced military capability has fuelled debate among experts that the PLA is both corrupt and capable. The US Department of Defense's 2024 China Military Report further buttressed this view by highlighting China's advancements in nuclear, missile, and air-power capabilities. However, entrenched corruption, endemic organisational chaos, and limited expertise in operating hi-tech equipment continue to undermine confidence in the PLA's combat capability. For Xi, these issues remain a source of concern shaping his cautious approach to making decisions in China's immediate neighbourhood.
This story is from the December 27, 2024 edition of Financial Express Lucknow.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 27, 2024 edition of Financial Express Lucknow.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
South steals the spotlight
Hits from Hindi film industry in post-Covid era have been fewer and far between
Smart Cities Mission: School enrolment up 22%
STEPS TAKEN UNDER the Smart Cities Mission have led to a 22% increase in school enrolment in 19 cities and improved real-time tracking of criminal activities, according to two studies by the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
Does India want BGT win or Rohit back in form?
In case openers KL Rahul or Yashasvi Jaiswal had been struggling, Rohit's elevation would have made sense. But with his form, the change of batting order wasn't really warranted
UltraTech to buy stake in Star Cement
Both the players are snapping up small cement players to consolidate their positions and achieve their targeted growth ahead of time.
Byju Raveendran: From boom to bust
BY EARLY 2024, these issues culminated in severe consequences. US-based lenders initiated bankruptcy proceedings against Byju's to recover outstanding loans, and back home, the ministry of corporate affairs launched investigations into its financial practices.
Oil rises 1%, heads for weekly gain
Oil rose about 1% on Friday and was set for a weekly gain in low trading volume ahead of year-end, backed by expectations of lower US crude stockpiles and hopes of a stimulus-driven economic recovery in China.
IIFL Home Finance expects 15% AUM growth in FY25
● Looking at stock market listing, but no timeline yet
Jewellery units lose sheen on weak Rupee
THE DEMAND IN east Asia, however, has been tepid.
Squid Game stocks tank
A LESS-THAN-PERFECT
Russia warns Trump against resumption of nuclear testing
RUSSIA'S POINT MAN for arms control cautioned Donald Trump's incoming administration on Friday against resuming nuclear testing, saying Moscow would keep its own options open amid what he said was Washington's \"extremely hostile\" stance.
