South China Morning Post
Central Military Commission, chaired by the president, says military information security is a key part of building a strong army
The PLA Daily newspaper warned “China is facing tremendous pressure in internet security as countries around the world are engaging in a fierce competition in cyberspace.” Photo: Reuters
President Xi Jinping has called for the country’s military to promote home-grown security systems to boost military information security.
The directive, issued by the supreme Central Military Commission which is chaired by Xi, is designed to act as a guideline for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and People’s Armed Police.
It stipulates military information security is a key part of building a strong army.
The directive called for military information security efforts to be stepped up, the military mouthpiece newspaper PLA Daily said.
The report did not specify details of the directive, but said that it appealed to the army to launch a risk assessment and a classified protection system for information security.
The paper also said the directive urged the regulation of information security construction.
The development of home-grown security systems would consolidate information security in the army, the paper said.
The directive also called for “a firm stand in favour of ideological safety on the internet”, and “severe blows against any crimes related to the military on the internet”, the PLA Daily added.
It pledged “a comprehensive control over information security, to ensure the safety of key personal figures, core data and critical equipment”, the report said.
In a front page editorial, the PLA Daily described the move as “a positive response to the emerging cybersecurity threats”.
“China is facing tremendous pressure in internet security as countries around the world are engaging in a fierce competition in cyberspace,” the editorial said.
“Information security should be placed in a key strategic position … in order to provide reliable support to the goal of a strong army.”
China has stepped up effort in internet security since Xi took the party’s helm in late 2012. Early this year, the Communist Party announced it would establish a new panel, chaired by Xi, to oversee internet security, which Xi said was an important part of the national interest.
China is also facing increasing international pressure. In a high profile case, five PLA officers were charged by the US Justice Department in May with hacking to give Chinese industry an unfair edge.
