With the apparent corruption in People's Liberation Army, Chinese military officials, experts and state media doubt the country's ability to engage in a war, citing tensions on disputed waters between China and other Asian countries.

China's military force projects power into its seas using a large budget. But experts see that corruption in the military sector will hamper its efforts.

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Last week, Study Times published an article about the corruption in PLA, using China's defeat in the Sino-Japan War as its theme.

The commentary on the corrupt military sector is compelling despite PLA's notable developments and achievements.

For example, China's defense launched the country's sole aircraft carrier in 2012 and developed stealth fighter jets.

However, corruption drowns these developments. Two grave instances of corruption expose the ingrained graft in the PLA.

A recent graft case involves Lieutenant-General Gu Junshan who, until his sacking in 2012 as PLA Logistics Department deputy head, was considered a protégé. According to sources, Gu sold military positions that are worth millions of dollars.

Another case involves General Xu Caihou, ex-vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, who allegedly took bribes when he was still with the top decision-making body of the military.

He retired in 2013, but the government said last June that Xu will be questioned in military court.

The apparent selling of military jobs in PLA leads to staffing of incompetent personnel.

In return, the promoted staff launders money from official projects to recover funds used as bribe.

The wide existence of corrupt officials in the sector will keep exhausting the budget allotted for PLA's programs, ex Major-General Luo Yuan said.

Officials said that President Xi Jinping is focused on the issue of corruption in PLA.

He will promote General Liu Yuan to act as an informer to help eliminate corruption in the sector.

TagsChina corruption