China orders government agencies to switch from Windows to domestic Linux

The Chinese government has reportedly ordered several state agencies to transition from Windows 10 China Government Edition to domestic Linux distributions. This move, which appears to be ahead of previous schedules, follows similar trends seen in Europe as nations seek greater digital sovereignty and reduced reliance on American software providers.

While the specific Linux versions to be used have not been officially detailed, the announcement has already impacted the market, with stock prices rising for domestic suppliers such as Kylin Software and UnionTech Software Technology (UnionTech). These companies provide Kylin OS and UnionTech OS (UOS), which are positioned as primary replacements for Windows in government, state-owned enterprises, and critical infrastructure.

Although Huawei is developing HarmonyOS 2 as a potential PC platform, Kylin and UOS remain the only mature desktop options currently ready for large-scale institutional deployment. The transition is expected to face technical challenges, including the need for application testing, driver validation, identity system integration, and staff retraining to manage the shift away from Windows-dependent software.