People's Liberation Army Cyberspace Force

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People's Liberation Army
Cyberspace Force
中国人民解放军网络空间部队
Cyberspace Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Founded19 April 2024;15 months ago (2024-04-19)
CountryFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  People's Republic of China
AllegianceFlag of the Chinese Communist Party.svg Chinese Communist Party
Type Cyber force
Role Cyberwarfare
Part ofPeople's Liberation Army Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  People's Liberation Army
Commanders
Commander Lieutenant General Zhang Minghua  [ zh ]
Political Commissar Lieutenant General Han Xiaodong  [ zh ]
Insignia
Symbol China Emblem PLA.svg
Flag Cyberspace Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg

The People's Liberation Army Cyberspace Force is an arm of the People's Liberation Army. It was established on 19 April 2024, followed by the dissolution of the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF). And the Cyberspace Force received the functions of the former PLASSF's Network Systems Department.

Contents

History

The Cyberspace Force was established on 19 April 2024 following as one of the new successor branches which followed the dissolution of the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF). [1] [2] :226 The Cyberspace Force has the functions of the former PLASSF Network Systems Department. [2] :226 The other new branches created were the PLA Aerospace Force and the PLA Information Support Force. [2] :226

At the creation of the Cyberspace Force, the Ministry of National Defense stated in relation to its role that "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." [2] :226

The Cyberspace Force operates five Technical Reconnaissance Bases that align with the PLA's five theater commands. [1] The force's Cyberspace Operations Base oversees the country's offensive cyberwarfare, psychological warfare, and advanced cybersecurity research. [1]

Leadership

Commander

Political Commissar

Ranks

Officer ranks
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officers
Cyberspace Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg PLA Cyberspace Force
PLAGF-0720-GEN.png PLAGF-0719-LTG.png PLAGF-0718-MG.png PLAGF-0717-SNC.png PLAGF-0716-COL.png PLAGF-0715-LTC.png PLAGF-0714-MAJ.png PLAGF-0713-CPT.png PLAGF-0712-1LT.png PLAGF-0711-2LT.png
上将
Shàngjiàng
中将
Zhōngjiàng
少将
Shàojiàng
大校
Dàxiào
上校
Shàngxiào
中校
Zhōngxiào
少校
Shàoxiào
上尉
Shàngwèi
中尉
Zhōngwèi
少尉
Shàowèi
Enlisted and NCO ranks
Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted
Cyberspace Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg PLA Cyberspace Force
PLAGF-0709-1CSGT.png PLAGF-0708-2CSGT.png PLAGF-0707-3CSGT.png PLAGF-0706-4CSGT.png PLAGF-0705-SSG.png PLAGF-0704-SGT.png PLAGF-0703-CPL.png PLAGF-0702-PFC.png PLAGF-0701-PVT.png
一级军士长
Yījí jūnshìzhǎng
二级军士长
Èrjí jūnshìzhǎng
三级军士长
Sānjí jūnshìzhǎng
四级军士长
Sìjí jūnshìzhǎng
上士
Shàngshì
中士
Zhōngshì
下士
Xiàshì
上等兵
Shàngděngbīng
列兵
Lièbīng

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Constello, John (25 April 2025). "The Cyberspace Force: A Bellwether for Conflict". China Brief. Jamestown Foundation . Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Cunningham, Fiona S. (2025). Under the Nuclear Shadow: China's Information-Age Weapons in International Security. Princeton University Press. doi:10.2307/jj.16040335. ISBN   978-0-691-26103-4. JSTOR   jj.16040335.