Water Instead of Fuel in Missiles? How Faulty Nukes Triggered Xi Jinping’s Massive PLA Purge

Explosive allegations surrounding China’s nuclear missile force are shedding new light on President Xi Jinping’s sweeping purge of the country’s military leadership, including the reported fall of one of his closest aides. According to intelligence-linked reports, critical failures within China’s nuclear missile infrastructure—ranging from jammed silo lids to missiles allegedly filled with water instead of fuel—may have played a decisive role in triggering the crackdown.

At the centre of the storm is Zhang Youxia, China’s top uniformed military officer and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission. Zhang, long regarded as a trusted ally of Xi, was reportedly detained in January on serious charges including corruption, compromising combat readiness, and allegedly leaking sensitive nuclear weapons data to the United States.

The developments follow the dramatic purge of the PLA Rocket Force leadership in 2023 and 2024. The Rocket Force is responsible for managing China’s nuclear missile arsenal, making any lapses in its operational integrity a matter of grave national security concern.

According to reports citing US intelligence, investigations uncovered severe equipment failures at missile sites in western China, particularly in Xinjiang. Entire fields of missile silos were allegedly fitted with heavy lids that could not open properly, rendering the missiles useless in a real conflict. Even more alarming were claims that some missiles were found to be filled with water rather than fuel—raising the possibility that they would have failed completely if launched.

These revelations reportedly prompted the removal of multiple senior Rocket Force commanders and intensified scrutiny of higher-level oversight. Analysts believe Zhang’s downfall may be directly linked to these failures, either through corruption in procurement and maintenance or through broader lapses in command responsibility.

While some experts have questioned parts of the intelligence claims—arguing that China typically stores liquid-fuelled missiles unfuelled to avoid corrosion—the presence of water inside missile systems has fuelled speculation of deliberate sabotage or gross negligence. Either scenario would represent a severe breach of China’s nuclear deterrence credibility.

International observers say the purge reflects Xi Jinping’s growing anxiety over the People's Liberation Army’s true state of readiness. Corruption within the PLA has long been a concern, but recent actions suggest Xi sees it as a direct threat to China’s strategic ambitions, particularly as tensions rise over Taiwan.

China has stepped up military drills near Taiwan and adopted a more confrontational posture toward Japan and the US. Some Western intelligence assessments reportedly view 2027 as a potential window for Chinese military action against Taiwan, making operational readiness a top priority for Beijing.

Strategic analysts argue that the purge is less about internal politics and more about enforcing discipline ahead of possible future conflicts. Jonathan Czin of the Brookings Institution has noted that Xi’s willingness to remove even his closest allies signals an uncompromising focus on military effectiveness.

Whether the water-filled missile claims are ultimately confirmed or disputed, the scale and intensity of the purge point to deep systemic concerns within China’s armed forces. For Xi Jinping, ensuring that the PLA can fight—and win—appears to have become an overriding imperative, even if it means tearing down the very leadership he once trusted.