President Xi Jinping announces reforms to the Chinese military.
(Baonghean.vn) - Chinese leader Xi Jinping has announced a major reform of the military, establishing a new Army Information Support Force, responsible for handling hybrid warfare scenarios.
The announcement was made at a ceremony in Beijing on Friday. President Xi Jinping declared that China must prioritize military development in the modern era, as well as enhance its capabilities through reform, science, and new talent. The Chinese leader described the newly formed military wing as a “strategic force” that will provide indispensable support for the coordination and utilization of information systems networks.
According to the Chinese government website, Xi Jinping said: "It will play a crucial role in promoting the high-quality development and competitiveness of the Chinese military in modern warfare."
General Bi Yi was appointed commander of the new branch of the military, and General Li Wei was appointed political commissar. In the People's Liberation Army of China, political commissars serve as deputy commanders and are primarily responsible for administrative tasks and political education.
President Xi Jinping also noted that it is important to “adhere to the principle of mutual victory and rely on information, seamless information linkage, and integrated information sources,” as well as to strengthen information security.
Meanwhile, Beijing has disbanded the Strategic Support Force, established in 2015 to enhance China's expertise in space, cyber, political, and electronic warfare, and to help it fight in "information-driven conflicts."
Commenting on the reforms, Ministry of Defense spokesperson Wu Qian said that China now has four military forces – the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force, and four units – the Aerospace Force, the Cyber Force, the Information Support Force, and the Joint Logistics Support Force.
The military reform, described by Bloomberg as the largest since 2015, follows the dismissal of nine senior military officers from the National People's Congress in December, including four who had served in the Rocket Force. This move also comes after the dismissal of former Defense Minister Li Shangfu in October. Beijing has offered no explanation for these changes, but Western media reports suggest that Li is under investigation for alleged corruption.
China has consistently taken steps to enhance its military capabilities amid increasing competition with the United States in recent years due to tensions over Taiwan.
