The People's Liberation Army Cyberspace Force is the cyber force service branch 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). The Cyberspace Force received the functions of the former PLASSF's Network Systems Department.

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). The Cyberspace Force has the functions of the former PLASSF Network Systems Department. The other new branches created were the PLA Aerospace Force and the PLA Information Support Force.

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."

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

The PLA Cyberspace Force made their first public appearance at the 2025 China Victory Day Parade on September 3, 2025.

Structure

The Cyberspace Force is broken down into the General Staff Department, and the Political Work Department. Below these two departments is the following breakdown:

Logistics Department Unit 32047 is part of the Logistics Department.

Equipment Department The Equipment Department is broken down into seven local military representative offices located in:

Shanghai Tianjin Nanjing Chengdu Guangzhou Shenzhen Wuhan

Bureaus There are also two bureaus under the Cyberspace Force: the Network Bureau, and the Information Bureau.

PLA Information Engineering University The PLA Information Engineering University (IEU) is the PLA's research institute for the study of information warfare.

Leadership

Commander

Zhang Minghua (April 2024 – present)

Political Commissar

Han Xiaodong (April 2024 – present)

Ranks Officer ranks

Enlisted and NCO ranks

See also

Cyberwarfare by China

References