New | China's military sets up first national security think tank

China's military has for the first time set up a national security think tank to tackle the state's "outstanding security issues", the official Xinhua News Agency said.

The establishment of the China National Security Studies Centre marks Beijing's latest effort to tighten its grip on domestic security and defence, following the new national security law earlier this month.

The new legislation defines national security as the protection of a broad range of areas, from cultural and ideological issues to cyber security and China's interests in space, emphasising party leadership.

The institute - formed on Thursday under the People's Liberation Army National Defence University - will provide consultancy services to the military and the party's central committee, present their vision on policy-making, and publish an annual state security report.

It was "especially meaningful" to set up the institute ahead of the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war, the university's political commissar General Liu Yazhou said in a speech.

"[The establishment of the institute] is far beyond the realm of academia, but rather, it signifies our sense of responsibility and commitment," China News Service quoted Liu as saying.