According to Bloomberg, published on August 18, 2026, China is moving toward a complete phase-out of a modified version of the Microsoft Windows operating system that was developed specifically for government agencies. The Ministry of State Security of the PRC, according to informed sources, has instructed a number of state organizations to remove adapted versions of Windows 10 from their computer systems. This step marks a new stage in Beijing's long-running campaign to gradually reduce its dependence on foreign, and above all American, technologies.
The special version of Windows and its creator
The version in question is Windows 10, developed by C&M Information Technology Company (CMIT). CMIT is a joint venture between Microsoft and the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), established in 2016. Its task was to adapt Windows 10 to the strict security requirements set by the Chinese government. It was precisely this modified system that was used in government bodies where the use of standard foreign solutions is restricted.
Accelerated timelines and the diplomatic context
Under the original plan, CMIT was to officially end support for this version of the software in February 2027 as part of the government's campaign to limit the use of foreign technologies. However, a new order to accelerate the timeline, issued just weeks before the scheduled meeting between US President Donald Trump and PRC Chairman Xi Jinping, caught many civil servants off guard. According to sources, the decision hastened the "decline" of the operating system by several months compared to the original schedule, reflecting Beijing's growing wariness toward key American technologies.
Contradictory data
The reasons for accelerating the phase-out are presented differently in third-party accounts. Chinese sources cite "concerns over data security," but do not disclose which specific potential vulnerabilities are troubling officials. At the same time, a Microsoft representative stated: "Microsoft has not recorded any security incidents related to this product. The software continues to receive regular security updates. We have no additional comments at this time." Thus, one side points to security risks, while the other directly denies the existence of incidents, creating a discrepancy in the explanation of the decision's motives. Neither the State Council Information Office of China nor CMIT had responded to the incident at the time of publication.
Transition to domestic OS and the broader context
China has long promoted the use of domestic technologies in areas involving the processing of confidential data, including the military sector and state-owned enterprises. Several companies, including Kylin Software and Tongxin Software Technology, have developed their own operating systems to replace Windows. Previously, Beijing instructed central government agencies to switch to domestically branded computers and banned the use of Apple's iPhone at a number of key state enterprises. Thus, the removal of the modified Windows 10 fits within a systematic policy of technological sovereignty, rather than being a one-off decision.
