Posted on 01/11/2024 9:50:37 PM PST by Red Badger
According to what Bloomberg News describes as a US intelligence report, Chinese authorities discovered that some of their missiles’ fuel tanks were filled with water – and that this was a marquee example of corruption whose unraveling led to Chinese President Xi’s recent military purge.
Bloomberg reported that it got the information from unnamed people who were “familiar with” a US intelligence assessment and that those US sources also said that new Xinjiang missile field silos were fitted with lids that were not installed properly and would not work – taken as another example of corruption.
Pentagon officials and “experts” are telling the press that the import of the twin tales is that China is weak and cannot fight. Yet the sources “familiar with” the intelligence say they cannot validate the information they provided Bloomberg.
The leaked “intelligence” that Bloomberg cites as its ultimate source leads inexorably to major questions. Under close examination the claims cited in the report seem to be fake.
The story is technically naive when it comes to China’s missiles. China does not keep its liquid-fueled rockets filled with propellant. This means they are empty sitting in silos. If fuel was stored in a rocket booster the internal tanks and plumbing would soon be ruined by corrosion. The military fuels them if there are warning conditions requiring loading the missiles with fuel.
There would be no reason to put water in the missiles unless it was deliberate sabotage. If it was deliberate sabotage China would not just be purging this or that official, they would have been arrested, tried and shot. Sabotage or destruction of strategic nuclear missiles is a very serious crime and would be met by the harshest measures. The idea that some officials would just be dismissed from their job is not a response to anything of this level of criminal significance. Those guilty of such crimes would be subjected to the harshest measures.
The second part of the story apparently is focused on the Hami missile field. The claim is that the lids of the silos are not fitted for operation. But if there were no missiles yet for these silos, there would be no reason to fit them to function with installed missiles. Unfortunately, we do not know the status of these missile fields at present, although the Pentagon may know.
“According to what Bloomberg News describes as a US intelligence report”
This is Standard Operating Procedure for the Neocons. They pick their enemy, post fake stories about their capabilities (like using shovels instead of guns), get whatever Administration to start yet another war, and then are ‘surprised’ when their newest enemy has the means to fight back and starts making minced meat of their front-line hardware.
This story was OBVIOUSLY fake from the start, as it was put out by Western ‘Intelligence’.
So, if you see some story from Western ‘Intelligence’, just laugh it off, as it is nothing but LIES.
Here’s what I think happened:
Xi calls Biden and says, “I need to purge some of my top generals, but I have no legitimate reason to do so without causing a big uproar. So here is what I want you to do: Have your Intel folks produce a story that all our missiles have water in them instead of fuel because corrupt generals have sold it for their own greed.”
Biden: Yes sir. Right away. Is tomorrow okay?..................
Chinese soldiers drained missile fuel from storage tanks and then top them off with water.
Makes sense to me, but I’m sure the Neocon Cheerleaders will comment differently.
Cheap, and may weigh similarly...
Most rockets are solid fuel so not sure what the point is here.
Author uses Western logic while attempting to analyze the Chinese, fails to understand that Chins runs of bribery and corruption, to the extent that he seems to be an apologist or “white monkey” for the PLA.
There has been a lot of flooding in China. While corruption is a safe bet, I wouldn’t rule out incompetence.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.