China’s territorial disputes include its claim to the autonomous island of Taiwan (Representational)
China announced the creation of a new military cyber corps on Friday, saying it would bolster Beijing’s ability to “fight and win” wars.
The Information Support Force will act as a “key support for the coordinated development and application of networked information systems,” said Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian.
China has invested billions of dollars in modernizing its military in recent years as tensions with the United States and other regional powers have risen.
President Xi Jinping has also sought to bring the military more firmly under his control since taking power a decade ago.
The new cyber force represents “a strategic step toward establishing a new service and weapons system and improving (China’s) modern military force structure,” Wu said.
He did not elaborate on its role, but said the body “has great responsibility in promoting high-quality development and the ability to fight and win in modern warfare.”
Xi “warmly congratulated” the establishment of the force at a grand ceremony in Beijing on Friday, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The images showed the Chinese leader dressed in khaki military fatigues addressing a beaming group of officers in full regalia at an event animated by marching songs.
Xi said the founding of the force was “an important decision” by the ruling Communist Party’s top brass to “improve the modern military force system with Chinese characteristics,” according to CCTV.
“We must resolutely obey the party’s command (and) fully implement the fundamental principles and systems of the party’s absolute leadership over the military,” he said.
China’s territorial disputes include its claim to the autonomous island of Taiwan, which the United States has pledged to help defend.
Beijing also contentiously claims almost the entire South China Sea, several islands also claimed by Japan and areas along its ill-defined border with regional rival India.
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