Will China show the door to the US company Microsoft? Windows to be removed from government systems
China is taking another major step toward reducing its reliance on US companies for government technology. According to a report, certain government and state-controlled entities in China have been instructed to remove Windows from their computer systems. This move comes at a time when Beijing has long been emphasizing the promotion of domestic technology and software.
A Bloomberg report states that China’s Ministry of State Security has directed certain government institutions and state-owned enterprises to remove the “Windows 10 China Government Edition.” Notably, this is not the standard version of Windows but a specialized version developed specifically to meet the Chinese government’s requirements. Plans are now underway to phase it out ahead of schedule.
Microsoft had developed the Windows 10 China Government Edition to cater to the specific needs of the Chinese government. To achieve this, Microsoft formed a joint venture named C&M Information Technologies (CMIT) in collaboration with the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group (CETC). According to Microsoft, this version granted the Chinese government greater control over telemetry and updates, while also allowing the use of its own encryption algorithms.
Despite this, China is now preparing to move away from this system as well. According to CMIT, the Windows 10 CMIT Government Edition V2022-L was released with a five-year service cycle, and its support period was scheduled to run until February 2027.
The report further indicates that concerns regarding data security and national security are key factors behind this decision. For some time now, China has been attempting to reduce its dependence on foreign technology in government computers and other systems.
This policy has gained increased significance following the escalation of technology-related tensions between China and the US. Beijing is promoting the use of domestic hardware and software within government institutions to minimize reliance on foreign companies for sensitive data and government systems.
Following the removal of Windows, it is likely that the use of domestic Linux-based operating systems will be encouraged within Chinese government institutions. Several domestic companies and institutions in China are already developing Linux-based operating systems. The objective is not merely to replace software from a US company but to make China’s entire tech ecosystem more self-reliant. China is already actively promoting domestic alternatives across sectors such as chips, operating systems, servers, and other technologies.
This decision is significant for Microsoft as well. The company had previously attempted to maintain its presence in the country by developing specialized versions of Windows for Chinese government clients. However, in recent years, Microsoft’s business in China has been impacted by policies promoting domestic technology and escalating US-China tensions.
