Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered a significant restructuring of the country’s military, marking the largest reorganization since 2015. The Strategic Support Force (SSF), which was responsible for enhancing China’s capabilities in space, cyber, political, and electronic warfare, will be terminated, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
A new branch called the Information Support Force (ISF) will be created, with aerospace and cyber units previously under the SSF becoming organizationally parallel to the ISF, as announced by China’s Defense Ministry. This new force will play a crucial role in supporting the coordination and utilization of the cyber information system.
Reiterating the Communist Party’s leadership over the military, President Xi stated that the new ISF would provide “key support in coordinating the construction and utilization of the cyber information system.” Li Wei, the political commissar from the disbanded SSF, will continue in the same role with the ISF. Meanwhile, Bi Yi will take over as the new commander, as reported by state television CCTV.
Ju Qiansheng, the previous SSF commander, had gone missing, sparking speculation that his disappearance was linked to the broader turbulence in China’s military leadership over the past year. Although Ju resurfaced, his current position remains unclear, and state media hasn’t provided further details.
The reorganization comes amid heightened tensions between China and the United States in the race for global influence, with cyber warfare playing a central role. Last month, the US, UK, and New Zealand accused China of sponsoring malicious cyber activities targeting democratic institutions.
This restructuring follows a major purge by Xi Jinping within the military establishment last year, with US intelligence experts suggesting it was due to the discovery of widespread corruption in the military, including in the Rocket Force, which manages China’s growing nuclear arsenal. The ouster of former Defense Minister Li Shangfu without explanation in October added to the turbulence, with Dong Jun, a navy veteran, named as the new defense chief in December.
