Executive Summary

This report examines corruption within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) police force, detailing its implications on military movements, strategic objectives, and broader regional stability. Key findings highlight systemic corruption undermining operational integrity, creating vulnerabilities in national defense, and influencing international perceptions of China’s military and law enforcement capabilities. Strategic recommendations aim to mitigate corruption’s impact on internal and external security objectives.

Background

The PLA police force, a critical component of China’s military and internal security apparatus, is tasked with maintaining public order, countering insurgencies, and securing sensitive areas. Historically, corruption within the PLA stems from broader systemic issues, including a lack of transparency, patronage networks, and poorly enforced anti-corruption measures. Since President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign in 2012, efforts to curtail these issues have succeeded; however, reports of bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of authority persist.

Key historical events contributing to this situation include:

Economic Liberalization (the 1980s): the reforms that started in the Deng Xiaoping era created wealth and created a new middle class in China. The reforms open up the economy for investment and business. This has also impacted the corruption in the police force, the regulations in China are opaque. They are vague and subject to officers’ discretion. This created a chance for police officers to exploit the emerging wealth of the middle class, since the party dominates in every sphere it gives less incentive for persons to report any instance that will jeopardize the party’s image.

Military-Civilian Integration: Overlapping responsibilities have created ambiguities in accountability. Military-civil integration, which became military-civil fusion in the Xi Jinping era, is a new arena where PLA officials are involved in entrepreneurial activities. Since most of the state tenders go to these state-led or supported enterprises, the scope of corruption like bribery and substandardisation increased with it. Modernization with dual-use technologies opened a new arena of high-end corruption.

Recent Anti-Corruption Drives: High-profile cases have exposed the scale of corruption but failed to eradicate the problem. These involved the revelation of cases where PAP officers in border regions have reportedly colluded with smuggling networks, accepting bribes to turn a blind eye to illicit trade activities, such as trafficking in narcotics or goods. The kidnapping of children thrown in mining regions exploiting forced child labor and the police turning a blind eye to it due to corruption become a reason for public outrage.

Military Analysis

Personnel: The PLA police force consists of specialized units trained in riot control, counter-terrorism, and border security. Corruption affects morale and recruitment, with favoritism undermining merit-based appointments. reports of officers lacking sufficient training in de-escalation techniques have emerged due to positions awarded based on connections or bribes, rather than merit. This has led to excessive use of force, aggravating tensions rather than managing them. In one case, a scandal involving promotions within the PAP in Guangdong province revealed that officers paid bribes to secure posts in units with higher pay and prestige, undermining morale among genuinely qualified personnel

Equipment: corruption led to overpriced and substandard equipment procurement. Reports from internal audits of PAP logistics divisions revealed inflated contracts for riot gear and armored vehicles. In one case, helmets and shields failed to meet safety standards, resulting in increased casualties during a riot in Inner Mongolia. Surveillance equipment intended for crowd monitoring was found to need to be updated due to kickbacks during the bidding process. This compromised the ability to track and contain unrest in urban areas. The PAP sought advanced drones for border surveillance as part of its modernization drive. However, investigations in 2020 uncovered that several drones purchased at premium prices had subpar specifications because officials had accepted bribes from unqualified vendors

Tactics: Corruption in tactical planning can lead to intelligence leaks, bribery among ranks, and inadequate responses to threats. corruption affects operational planning and execution. For example: During the 2019 Hong Kong protests, accusations surfaced that some tactical decisions by PAP units were influenced by personal interests rather than strategy. Allegations included officers avoiding deployment in risky zones after paying superiors for favorable assignments.

Strategic Implications: Corruption erodes the PLA’s readiness and hampers its strategic objectives, particularly in contested regions like Xinjiang and Tibet. Bribery has undermined counter-terrorism tactics, where informants within local communities are vital. In one case in Tibet, PAP officers were found pocketing funds allocated for informants, leading to insufficient actionable intelligence and compromised operations. Intelligence leaks during planning stages were reported in Xinjiang operations, where local PAP officers were found to have colluded with ethnic separatist groups in exchange for money, allowing protests to grow larger before suppression efforts began. These actions hurt the core security issue of China which China called 3 evils. Xinxiang and Tibet are highly internal securitized matters for China. According to China, these border regions are vulnerable to separatist forces and foreign powers.

Operational Assessment

Effectiveness: The PLA police force (PAP) has a reputation for handling complex security challenges, such as disaster relief, counter-terrorism, and riot control. However, corruption significantly undermines its long-term effectiveness by creating inefficiencies and eroding public trust. In regions like Guangxi, reports emerged of PAP officers facilitating smuggling operations in exchange for bribes. Instances of diverted budgets for personal enrichment reduce resources available for operations

Engagements: In Xinjiang, where PAP forces are tasked with suppressing separatist and extremist activities, corruption has led to several operational failures: Some officers were accused of leaking intelligence to separatist groups for financial gain, enabling planned demonstrations to proceed unchallenged. A lack of coordination, often attributed to bribery within the command structure, led to inconsistent responses to widespread unrest, amplifying tensions.

Challenges: Efforts to modernize and professionalize the force are hindered by entrenched corruption networks, reducing operational efficiency. Training programs designed to enhance counter-terrorism and surveillance capabilities are undermined by nepotism and bribery, which prioritize personal connections over competency. This leads to a poorly trained workforce incapable of meeting modern operational demands

Impact Assessment

Regional Security: Corruption within the PLA police force has significant implications for stability in politically sensitive regions, including Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. During the 2019 protests, allegations of excessive use of force and corruption eroded public trust in the authorities. Accusations of officers accepting bribes to prioritize personal safety or conduct arbitrary arrests undermined the PAP’s credibility. Corruption in counter-terrorism and surveillance operations in Xinjiang has led to lapses in security, enabling separatist activities to gain momentum. For instance: Officers have reportedly accepted bribes to overlook suspicious activities, compromising counter-terrorism objectives. Funds meant for community engagement and security projects are often embezzled, leaving local grievances unaddressed and fueling further instability.

International Alliances: Revelations of corruption damage China’s international credibility, complicating relations with partners and rivals alike. actions relying on Chinese security training programs may question the effectiveness of PAP-led initiatives if corruption compromises the quality of expertise offered. Corruption-linked scandals, such as substandard military exports or questionable joint ventures, reduce trust in Chinese capabilities.

Escalation Risks: Corruption-induced inefficiencies in the PAP increase the likelihood of overreliance on force and heighten the risk of violent escalation in contested regions. When operational inefficiencies caused by corruption lead to failure in managing unrest, authorities often compensate by deploying excessive force. This approach has been observed in: Hong Kong: Disproportionate crackdowns during protests have fueled public anger, escalating violence rather than containing it. Xinjiang: Heavy-handed measures, such as mass detentions and aggressive surveillance, have drawn international condemnation and increased separatist sentiment.

Recommendations

Enhanced Oversight Mechanisms: Strengthen internal audits and establish independent bodies to oversee procurement and operations.

Merit-Based Promotions: Implement transparent systems to reward competence and reduce favoritism.

International Collaboration: Engage with foreign experts to adopt best practices in law enforcement accountability.

Whistleblower Protections: Encourage reporting of corrupt practices by providing safeguards for whistleblowers.

Cultural Reforms: Foster a culture of integrity within the PLA police force through education and leadership initiatives.

Conclusion

Corruption within the PLA police force significantly challenges China’s strategic objectives and regional security. Despite some progress through anti-corruption campaigns, systemic issues persist, requiring a multi-pronged approach to address. Strategic recommendations, if implemented, can enhance operational effectiveness, bolster internal and external confidence, and contribute to regional stability.