On the evening of April 19, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense Senior Colonel Wu Qian answered recent media queries concerning the PLA Information Support Force.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), releases news at a press conference on the evening of April 19, 2024. (mod.gov.cn/Photo by Zhang Zhicheng）

Wu Qian: The inaugural conference of the PLA Information Support Force was held in Bayi Building on April 19th, 2024. I will now take questions concerning the conference.

Question: The conference inaugurates the Information Support Force. What kind of force is it?

Wu Qian: Establishing the Information Support Force through restructuring is a major decision made by the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission (CMC) for the cause of building a strong military, and a strategic step to establish a new system of services and arms and improve the modern military force structure with Chinese characteristics. This is of profound and far-reaching significance to the modernization of national defense and the armed forces and effective fulfillment of the missions and tasks of the People's military in the new era. The Information Support Force is a brand-new strategic arm of the PLA and a key underpinning of coordinated development and application of the network information system. It plays an important role and bears great responsibility in promoting high-quality development and the ability to fight and win in modern warfare.

Question: Following up on your answer to the last question, please give us more details about "establishing a new system of services and arms".

Wu Qian: With the latest reform, the PLA now has a new system of services and arms under the leadership and command of the CMC. There are four services, namely the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Rocket Force, and four arms, including the Aerospace Force, the Cyberspace Force, the Information Support Force and the Joint Logistics Support Force. As circumstances and tasks evolve, we will continue to refine the modern military force structure with Chinese characteristics.

Question: What tasks will the Aerospace Force undertake? Does this imply any changes to China’s space policy?

Wu Qian: Space is a shared asset of humanity. Space security provides strategic assurance for national and social development. Building the Aerospace Force is of great significance to strengthening the capacity to safely enter, exit and openly use space, enhancing crisis management and the efficacy of comprehensive governance in space and promoting peaceful utilization of space. China's space policy is clear. We are committed to peaceful utilization of space and stand ready to work with all countries with the same commitment to strengthen exchanges, deepen cooperation and contribute to lasting peace and common security in space.

Question: What tasks will the Cyberspace Force assume? Does this mean cyberspace militarization?

Wu Qian: Cyber security remains a global challenge and poses a severe threat to China. Developing the Cyberspace Force and cyber security and defense means are important for reinforcing national cyber border defense, promptly detecting and countering network intrusions and maintaining national cyber sovereignty and information security. We actively advocate building a cyberspace featuring peace, security, openness and cooperation and are committed to working with the international community to jointly build a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

That concludes today's press conference. Thank you.