(Beijing) China announced the creation within the army of a new cyber defense force, inaugurated with great fanfare by President Xi Jinping and presented as being able to help “win modern wars”.
This information support force (“Information Support Force” according to its official title in English) is a “strategic branch” of the armed forces, Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, said Friday evening.
The result of a restructuring of the cyber defense forces, the creation of this entity is a “major decision” intended to strengthen “the cause of building a strong army”.
No details about the precise tasks of this new branch of the military have been revealed.
But Wu Qian presented her as having “a great responsibility” in “the ability to fight and win modern wars”, comments made in a context of recurring tensions with the United States, Taiwan, Japan, India and the Philippines.
The Chinese army is under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a hold that its number one Xi Jinping has worked to consolidate since he came to power a decade ago.
Also head of state, Xi Jinping sent his “warm congratulations” during a major ceremony on Friday which he attended on the occasion of the creation of this cyber defense force, state television CCTV indicated.
Footage shows him dressed in a khaki-colored Chinese revolution costume, speaking to officers in regalia.
“He ordered the force to resolutely obey the orders of the (Communist) Party and ensure that it remains absolutely loyal, pure and reliable,” according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Beijing has gradually caught up with Western armies in recent decades. Its defense budget increases in step with its economic development.
Today the second largest army in the world in terms of expenditure, which remains three times lower than that of the United States, China has become the main military force in Asia.
An emergence which arouses the distrust of Washington and the concern of several neighboring countries.
Because China has several territorial disputes, notably with Japan for control of islands in the East China Sea and with the Philippines, with whom it disputes islets and reefs in the South China Sea.
The Asian giant also claims the island of Taiwan and maintains a border dispute with India.