China's military has established a new information support force reportedly tasked with aiding advancements in modern warfare.

President Xi Jinping attended a launch ceremony on Friday in Beijing. He described the unit as a "key pillar" of the military.

In 2015, China established a strategic support force believed to have overseen the fields of cyber space and outer space as part of large-scale military reforms.

But that unit has now been abolished.

Leaders in China want to strengthen the military in the lead-up to 2027, when the People's Liberation Army becomes 100 years old.

But the modernization drive has not been without its problems.

In 2023, top officials from the military's rocket force reportedly became embroiled in a corruption crackdown.