China's Military Overhaul for Future War Dominance
Amidst regional tensions, China unveils its most significant military restructuring in years, emphasizing technology-driven strategic capabilities to secure victory in future conflicts, intensifying the rivalry with Washington for military supremacy in the region.
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China has recently implemented its biggest military overhaul in nearly ten years, emphasizing technology-driven strategic forces prepared for modern warfare. This move comes as Beijing competes with Washington for military dominance in a region filled with geopolitical tensions.
Last week, Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a surprising decision to disband the Strategic Support Force (SSF), a military branch he established in 2015. The SSF was created to combine the People's Liberation Army's space, cyber, electronic, and psychological warfare capabilities as part of a major overhaul of the armed forces.
In place of the SSF, Xi introduced the Information Support Force. He described it as "a new strategic arm of the PLA and a crucial component in the coordinated development and implementation of the network information system."
He mentioned that the new force would be crucial in assisting the Chinese military in succeeding in contemporary warfare. This statement was made during a ceremony last Friday.
During a press briefing on the same day, a representative from China’s Defense Ministry hinted that the SSF had been divided into three units - the Information Support Force, the Aerospace Force, and the Cyberspace Force. These units will report directly to the Central Military Commission, which is led by Xi and sits at the top of the military hierarchy.
Under the new structure, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) now includes four services - the army, navy, air force, and the rocket force - along with four arms: the three units separated from the Strategic Support Force (SSF) and the Joint Logistic Support Force, as stated by ministry spokesperson Wu Qian.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping oversees the inauguration of the Information Support Force of the People's Liberation Army at a ceremony in Beijing on April 19, 2024.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping oversees the inauguration of the Information Support Force of the People's Liberation Army at a ceremony in Beijing on April 19, 2024.
Xinhua News Agency
Experts who specialize in the Chinese military believe that the reorganization boosts Xi's personal authority over the PLA's strategic abilities. This move also highlights China's goals of improving its expertise in AI and other cutting-edge technologies to get ready for what they refer to as "intelligentized warfare" in the future.
This restructuring comes after Xi's extensive crackdown on corruption within the PLA last year. This initiative resulted in the investigation and removal of influential generals and significant changes within the rocket force, a distinguished division responsible for overseeing China's growing collection of nuclear and ballistic missiles.
The Information Support Force will be led by top generals from the now-defunct SSF.
Bi Yi, the deputy commander of SSF, has been chosen as the commander of the new unit. Li Wei, who served as the political commissar of SSF, will now hold the same position in the Information Support Force, as reported by state-run news agency Xinhua.
There has been no announcement of a new appointment for SSF commander Ju Qiansheng. Last year, there was speculation when he disappeared from public view during a series of military purges. He later reappeared at a conference in late January.
Some people are hoping for more transparency and communication from Ju Qiansheng. They believe that better visibility and clear updates would help to alleviate concerns and uncertainty.
Longtime observers of the PLA believe that the recent reorganization is not just a response to corruption purges, but also a recognition that the SSF was not the best organizational structure for the Chinese military.
According to Joel Wuthnow, a senior research fellow at the National Defense University, the reorganization indicates that the SSF did not meet expectations. It limited Xi's oversight of key functions and failed to enhance coordination among space, cyber, and network defense forces.
Before being disbanded, the SSF consisted of two main units. The Aerospace Systems Department was responsible for overseeing the PLA's space operations and reconnaissance, while the Network System Department focused on cyber, electronic, and psychological warfare capabilities.
A total of 137 students directional trained for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force participate in a see-off ceremony at Fuyang Institute of Technology and will set off for barracks on December 26, 2021 in Fuyang, Anhui Province of China.
A group of 137 students who have received training for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force gathered at Fuyang Institute of Technology for a special ceremony. They will be heading to the barracks on December 26, 2021, in Fuyang, Anhui Province, China.
Photograph by Wang Biao/VCG/Getty Images/File
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Wuthnow believes that the new structure will allow Xi to have a clearer understanding of activities in space, cyberspace, and network management. These responsibilities will now be directly overseen by Xi, rather than being managed through the Strategic Support Force as an intermediary.
The absence of this visibility could pose significant risks, particularly during periods of increased tension and lack of trust between Beijing and Washington.
Last year, a Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down by the US after it flew across the continental United States. This event led to a new crisis between the two countries and caused their relationship to become very strained for several months.
Even though US intelligence officials claimed that the balloon was part of a large surveillance program conducted by the Chinese military, it is possible that Xi, the Chinese leader, was not informed about this specific mission.
US President Joe Biden mentioned in June that the Chinese leader was unaware of the balloon incident. He expressed that the leader felt embarrassed when it drifted off course into American airspace and was subsequently shot down.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has scrapped the People's Liberation Army's Strategic Support Force, a branch he founded in 2015.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has scrapped the People's Liberation Army's Strategic Support Force, a branch he founded in 2015.
Xinhua News Agency
James Char, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, mentioned that the SSF’s Aerospace Systems Department would have been responsible for conducting strategic reconnaissance during the spy balloon incident.
He added that this was one of the roles and responsibilities of the PLASSF.
It is uncertain whether the balloon incident played a role in Xi's choice to dissolve the SSF.
According to Wuthnow from the National Defense University, the Information Support Force, which has been recently established, is expected to be responsible for managing communications and protecting the network for the PLA.
"It is crucial for the PLA to get these aspects right in any potential conflict. They have been closely observing these functions and likely learning lessons from the war in Ukraine," he mentioned in relation to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"Therefore, it is understandable that the chairman of the Central Military Commission would seek to take on a more hands-on role in this area."
The latest changes in military strategy, known as "intelligentized warfare," are believed to be part of a continuous evaluation on how the military can effectively achieve the strategic goals set by the Chinese Communist Party, as noted by Char.
He mentioned that the reorganization now better shows how the PLA values the acceleration of intelligentized warfare development due to advancements in technology and industry.
The idea of "intelligentized warfare" gained focus in a 2019 Chinese defense white paper, which emphasized the military use of advanced technologies like AI, quantum information, big data, and cloud computing.
The landscape of global military competition is going through significant changes. Every day, new and advanced military technologies, centered around information technology, are emerging. There is a growing focus on creating long-range precision, intelligent, stealthy, and unmanned weapons and equipment.
According to the white paper, warfare is quickly evolving towards informationized warfare. The future holds the possibility of intelligentized warfare becoming a reality.
The establishment of the Information Support Force as a new division under the Central Military Commission highlights the significance of information superiority in contemporary warfare.
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Network information technology was highlighted as a crucial factor in improving combat capability by a commentary in the PLA Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Chinese military. According to the commentary, in modern warfare, the ability to control information is key to gaining the upper hand in battle.
The focus on information dominance and the concept of "intelligentized warfare" will greatly impact any possible future conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
The Chinese Communist Party sees Taiwan as its own territory, even though it has never governed the island. They are determined to bring Taiwan under their control, even if it means using military force.
Char mentioned that in case of a conflict in Taiwan, the Information Support Force would probably play a key role in helping the PLA control the information domain before their opponents can intervene.
Editor's P/S:
The recent military overhaul in China is a significant development that reflects the country's growing focus on technology-driven warfare. The disbandment of the Strategic Support Force (SSF) and the creation of the Information Support Force (ISF) indicate a shift towards a more centralized and streamlined approach to managing space, cyber, and network defense capabilities. This move is seen as a response to the perceived shortcomings of the SSF and is part of a broader effort to enhance China's military readiness in the face of increasing geopolitical tensions.
The reorganization also highlights the importance of information dominance in modern warfare. The ISF is tasked with managing communications and protecting the network for the PLA, recognizing that control over information is crucial for gaining the upper hand in battle. This focus on "intelligentized warfare," which involves the use of advanced technologies like AI and quantum information, is expected to shape the future of military competition and will likely have a significant impact on any potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
