April 21, 2024 at 11:19PM
China has established an Information Support Force (ISF) to strengthen its military’s network capabilities. President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for modern warfare readiness and declared 2027 as a milestone year for the People’s Liberation Army. The FBI director raised concerns about China’s cyber threats and highlighted the importance of collaboration with various entities to counter these challenges.
The meeting notes discuss the recent establishment of China’s Information Support Force (ISF) as part of the country’s military reorganization. President Xi Jinping formally established the ISF with the aim of ensuring that the People’s Liberation Army is capable of “winning modern wars.” The ISF is intended to build a network information system that meets the requirements of modern warfare and promote the accelerated improvement of the system’s combat capabilities.
The ISF will manage China’s cyber space and aerospace capabilities, and it has been positioned as essential for modernization, with 2027 identified as a milestone year for China’s military. The ISF will be overseen by China’s Central Military Commission, of which President Xi is the chair. The meeting notes also mention that the ISF’s specific functions were not discussed, and the significance of communication in modern warfare was highlighted.
The notes go on to discuss concerns raised by FBI Director Christopher Wray about China’s cyber threat, stating that China has the ability to wreak havoc on critical infrastructure and has a significant hacking program. The FBI works with partners like US Cyber Command, foreign law enforcement agencies, the CIA, and others to address cyber threats, with a focus on partnerships with the private sector and friendly governments.
Overall, the key takeaways from the meeting notes are the establishment of China’s ISF as a part of military modernization efforts, concerns raised about China’s cyber threat by the FBI, and the importance of partnerships and communication in addressing cyber threats.