China restructures 2.3 million-strong military

China has elevated the status of the strategic nuclear missile forces of its Army, Navy and Air Force and formed a new force to provide electronic and cyber intelligence backup for precision missile strikes in war, in a major overhaul of one of the world’s largest militaries.

In the newly-revamped structure of its 2.3 million-strong military, China’s powerful missile force — the Second Artillery Corps (SAC) — which was formed in 1966 has been renamed as People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force (PRF) while a new PLA Strategic Support Force (SSF) has been formed.

With a variety of short-, medium- and long-range nuclear and conventional missiles, China’s missile force is regarded as one of the biggest in the world.

On Thursday, China confirmed reports of the PLA conducting scientific tests of a railcar-based long-range missile capable of hitting targets across the US. Inaugurating the PRF and SSF, President Xi Jinping on Saturday conferred military flags on the general command of the two new units at a ceremony.

CCTV said besides renaming the missile force, Mr Xi who is also the head of the military, elevated the status of the new force with the Army, Navy and Air Force. The two new forces will not be “subordinating forces”.

While the PRF with number of missiles will carry on as a strategic deterrence force, the job of the SSF will be to provide proper electronic intelligence to it in times war.

The new forces, which are part of cyber warfare, will play in important role China’s plans to win “information wars”, it said.

China’s military which is in the middle of a massive anti-corruption campaign with about 40 top commanders under investigation is currently undergoing a big revamp of its command structure.

Inaugurating the forces Mr Xi, who is the chairman of the powerful central military commission (CMC) which oversees all military forces, said the formation of the Rocket Force and Strategic Support Force is a major decision by the ruling Communist Party of China to realise the Chinese dream of a strong military.