China’s nuclear missiles allegedly filled with water instead of fuel: US intelligence report

Beijing: Thousands of kilometres across western China, nuclear missiles were positioned inside silos, ready to launch at the press of a button. However, shocking revelations from recent US intelligence reports suggest that several of these missiles might not have been operational at all.

According to the reports, some silos had lids that failed to open, and many missiles were allegedly filled with water instead of fuel, making them completely useless in an emergency.

These startling findings are believed to be one of the major reasons behind the dramatic downfall of China’s Rocket Force leadership in 2024. Analysts now claim that the same issue could also be responsible for the political fall of General Zhang Youxia, one of China’s most powerful military figures.

General Zhang Youxia was considered a close aide of Chinese President Xi Jinping and served as the second most senior official in the Central Military Commission, China’s top military decision-making body. His sudden removal has sent shockwaves through the Chinese political and defence establishment.

According to multiple media reports, Zhang was detained on January 19 on serious charges including leaking sensitive nuclear weapons data to the United States, accepting bribes for promotions, and compromising the combat readiness of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

A report published by the South China Morning Post quoted an article from the PLA Daily stating, “We must take strong action to crack down on corrupt practices that weaken war capabilities and completely investigate and eradicate the ‘big rats’ who waste military resources.”

Zhang’s fall is being described as the biggest shake-up in a series of purges that have taken place within China’s PLA Rocket Force leadership during 2023 and 2024. The Rocket Force is responsible for managing China’s nuclear missile arsenal, and any corruption within it is seen as a direct threat to national security.

Defence experts believe that the crackdown is not only about punishing corruption but also about restoring China’s military preparedness. Allegations that nuclear missiles were filled with water instead of fuel highlight how deep-rooted corruption may have seriously weakened China’s strategic capabilities.

In 2024, Bloomberg reported, citing US intelligence officials, that corruption inside the Chinese military had led to serious operational failures. One such example was missile silos in Xinjiang where lids were reportedly installed in a manner that prevented missiles from being launched effectively.

Analysts warn that although some missiles may currently be non-operational, this situation is unlikely to remain permanent. They believe President Xi Jinping’s aggressive anti-corruption drive indicates that China is determined to rebuild and modernise its nuclear forces.

Experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) have pointed out that Xi’s response to these revelations shows that Beijing is serious about fixing internal flaws before they become a major strategic liability.

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