중국, 전략지원군을 정보지원군으로 개편

[위종민]

중국은 2015년 전략지원군 ( Strategic Support Force)을 창설해 인민해방군의 우주, 사이버, 전자, 심리전 역량을 통합했는데 최근 이를 해체하고 정보지원군을 창설한다고 발표했습니다. 네트워크 정보 시스템의 개발과 적용에서 핵심 기반이 될 것이라고 하네요. 

인민해방군은 육군, 해군, 공군, 로켓군 4개 병종(services)과 항공우주군, 사이버스페이스군, 정보지원군, 합동군수지원군 등 4개 군(arms)로 구성돼 있습니다. 

https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/in-major-shakeup-china-creates-new-information-support-force-scraps-strategic-support-force/

China creates new Information Support Force, scraps Strategic Support Force in ‘major’ shakeup

A PLA spokesman said 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," which would seem to indicate a sharp focus on networks.

By   COLIN CLARKon April 22, 2024 at 12:25 PM

Central Computer Processor digital concept (Getty images)

UPDATED 4/22/2024 at 3:00pm ET with comments from a Defense Department intelligence official.

SYDNEY — As part of the fundamental military reforms made in 2015, China brought together most of the Peoples Liberation Army’s space, cyber, electronic, and psychological warfare capabilities into what was called the Strategic Support Force.

Now, nearly a decade later, China’s Defense Ministry announced it was scrapping the SSF and creating a new Information Support Force — a move that PLA spokesman Wu Qian said was “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.”

Wu said it the change, announced Friday, signified “a major decision made by the [Chinese Communist Party, or CCP] Central Committee and the Central Military Commission (CMC). The CMC is the top military entity in China and the Central Committee is the party’s nominal ruling body.

The SSF had reported to the Central Military Commission (CMC), according to a study for the US Institute for National Security Studies.” It led two branches: the Space Systems Department, and the Network Systems Department.

“The [2015] reforms come at an inflection point as the PLA seeks to pivot from land-based territorial defense to extended power projection to protect Chinese interests in the ‘strategic frontiers’ of space, cyberspace, and the far seas,” the INSS study said.

However, a Singapore analyst of the Chinese military, Chong Ja Ian, told Breaking Defense the new move indicates dissatisfaction with the old command and offers a window into Beijing’s priorities in preparing for a future battle.

“First, the focus on information operations underscores the importance that the CCP leadership places on such activities. Secondly, the folding up of the Strategic Support Force, whose own existence was quite short, suggests that CCP leaders are not satisfied with the capabilities and approaches that it provided,” Jong, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore, said in an email.

The PLA spokesman said 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,” which would seem to indicate a sharp focus on networks — a focus the US military shares.

A Pentagon intelligence official told reporters today that the “new” force attempts to answer the questions like “How do I defend my information and try and bring all that information together as almost like an aggregator?”

“Cyberspace force still kind of has most of their same mission, which is really the intelligence collection, and then computer network attack operations. And then the aerospace force still has kind of control of the space,” the official said. “So for the Chinese, it looks like it’s more about how do I better optimize CMC direct control of these key components that we think exist.”

Chong also noted that the ISF’s creation highlights the extensive change to China’s military in the last few years. Those years have seen, of course, a defense minister mysteriously vanish and a number of high ranking officers apparently sacked for corruption.

“The rapid set up and folding up of the SSF, the relatively quick establishment of the ISF, along with the changes in the PLA leadership over the past few years point to continuing adjustment in the military. The absence of objection to these changes further underscore [Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s] unchallenged position within the party and state establishment,” he wrote.

Breaking Defense’s Michael Marrow contributed to this report from Washington, DC.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-04-19/China-calls-Information-Support-Force-brand-new-strategic-arm-of-PLA-1sVSL9Hg34I/p.html

China calls Information Support Force 'brand-new strategic arm' of PLA

China21:06, 19-Apr-2024

CGTN

 , Updated 22:21, 19-Apr-2024

Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, speaks at a press conference in Beijing, China, April 19, 2024. /Chinese Ministry of National Defense

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense on Friday called the newly established Information Support Force a brand-new strategic arm of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The inaugural conference of the PLA Information Support Force was held at the Bayi Building in Beijing on Friday afternoon.

"Establishing the Information Support Force through restructuring is a major decision made by the Communist Party of China 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," said Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the ministry, at a special press conference on Friday.

"This is of profound and far-reaching significance to the modernization of national defense and the armed forces and the effective fulfillment of the missions and tasks of the people's military in the new era," said Wu.

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," he said.

"It plays an important role and bears great responsibility in promoting high-quality development and the ability to fight and win in modern warfare," he added.

PLA embraces a new system of services and arms

Wu said that 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, which are the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Rocket Force, and four arms, which are the Aerospace Force, the Cyberspace Force, the Information Support Force and the Joint Logistic Support Force, he said.

"As circumstances and tasks evolve, we will continue to refine the modern military force structure with Chinese characteristics," said Wu.

China upholds peaceful utilization of space

The spokesperson also stressed China's commitment to the peaceful utilization of space.

Space is a shared asset of humanity, and space security provides strategic assurance for national and social development, said Wu.

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," he said.

China's space policy is clear, Wu said.

China is committed to peaceful utilization of space and stands 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, he said.

China to build a cyberspace featuring peace, security, openness, cooperation

At the press conference, Wu noted that 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," he said.

China actively advocates building a cyberspace featuring peace, security, openness and cooperation and is committed to working with the international community to jointly build a community with a shared future in cyberspace, said Wu.