China’s Air Force Used Missile Fuel To Cook Meals—Ex-Officer

A former Chinese military officer who defected to the United States claims to have used precious missile fuel to cool meals during his time in the People’s Liberation Army.

Yao Cheng, a former lieutenant colonel, told Radio Free Asia on Monday that he and other Chinese air force personnel would drain aircraft fuel and use solid fuel from missiles to cook hotpot. Solid fuel burns cleanly without odor—a suitable heat source for cooking, he explained.

Widespread corruption and budget mismanagement are undermining the PLA’s combat readiness, with reports of personnel misappropriating military supplies for personal use adding to a situation China’s President Xi Jinping this week described as “dire and complex.”

Yao, who defected in 2016, said corruption that permeated through the ranks of the Chinese military was driven by shortages in basic supplies and equipment. Budgets allocated to the armed forces were often diverted to cover expenses for dinners and gifts, he told RFA.

This alleged misuse of resources reflected a broader pattern of financial mismanagement, where funds intended for equipment were reallocated to other departments.

His revelations followed a recent U.S. intelligence assessment, first reported by Bloomberg, which alleged corrupt Chinese officials had filled some of the country’s missiles with water instead of rocket fuel.

Newsweek could not independently verify either claim. China’s Defense Ministry could not be reached for comment before publication.

The actions described by Yao would impact the PLA’s ability to maintain its forces.

The PLA Daily, the military’s official newspaper, recently emphasized the need for “strict management to create combat effectiveness,” warning against complacency that could escalate minor issues into major lapses in discipline and readiness.

The publication said violations of laws and military discipline at the grassroots level were occurring with concerning frequency, with some officers and soldiers engaging in illegal activities.

Bloomberg’s report, citing sources familiar with U.S. intelligence, linked Xi’s recent extensive military purge to the alarming levels of corruption within the defense establishment.

The corruption has reached a point where it could jeopardize Xi’s ambitious plans to modernize his armed forces and may affect China’s posture regarding major military actions in the near future, the report said.

According to the assessment, the discovery of missiles filled with water and missile silos in western China with non-functional lids raised serious concerns about the PLA’s operational capabilities and has led to a reevaluation of the potential threat posed by China’s military.