China has deployed a section of its mysterious cyberspace force to the South China Sea to remain “ready for action”, with the unit making a rare appearance in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Lunar New Year greeting to the military.
Xi conveyed his Lunar New Year message to multiple branches of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) via video on Wednesday from Beijing’s Bayi Building – the headquarters of the powerful military command body, the Central Military Commission – according to state broadcaster CCTV.
CCTV footage showed a section of the PLA Cyberspace Force stationed in the South China Sea on Fiery Cross Reef, an artificial island in the disputed Spratly Islands, which China calls the Nanshas.
The section chief and the political commissar responsible for ideological work reported to Xi in the video call that the force was conducting “combat readiness duty”.
“We shall remain constantly ready for action, resolutely safeguarding our nation’s outpost in the South China Sea,” the section chief said.
He added that Fiery Cross Reef, which China calls Yongshu Jiao, had “robust support across all fronts and comprehensive living facilities”.
“Fulfil your assigned duties well, particularly to ensure the coordinated management of soldiers’ work and living conditions,” Xi told the unit.
Representatives from other PLA branches were also greeted.
