PLA Former General Staff Headquarters Third Department renamed Cyberspace Warfare Department

[Bowen Press Exclusive] The People’s Liberation Army has already established its new strategic support units. One of them is the General Staff Headquarters’ former Technical Reconnaisance Unit (commonly referred to as the General Staff Headquarters Third Department). This department has recently formally changed its name, numerical designation and insignia. It’s now called the “People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Combat Unit Cyberspace Warfare Department” (shortened to “War Support Third Department”). Thus, the Communist Party cyberwarfare hackers are now formally an independent military unit.

Informed military sources revealed to Bowen News Service that, because the General Staff Headquarters Third Department is involved in military intelligence work, it will maintain a certain level of secrecy. But the name is already decided: “The People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Combat Unit Cyberspace Warfare Department” (shortened to “War Support Third Department”).

Military sources said that the strategic support combat unit is composed of three parts: 1. Cyberwarfare—Internet offensive and defensive hacking teams. 2. Aerospace: military space forces involved in all types of reconnaissance and satellite-guided navigation. 3. Electronic Warfare units: interfere with and mislead enemy radar and communications. The cyberwarriors will primarily be transferred from the former General Staff Headquarters Third Department. This will become a new branch of the services. Because the Internet has an increasing influence and plays an increasingly important role in human life and all professions, the Internet has become a new battle front.