The system, called OpenKylin, has been designed as a rival to the ubiquitous Windows and MacOS systems

China Introduces OpenKylin: A Domestic Alternative to US Windows and MacOS

Febin MathewJuly 7, 23 China, United States

According to state media, China has introduced its inaugural domestically developed open-source computer operating system, aiming to decrease reliance on foreign technology amidst growing competition with the United States.

The announcement of the new system came just before US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was due to land in Beijing on Thursday for a meeting with Chinese officials aimed in part at stabilizing relations between the world’s two leading economies.

The system, called OpenKylin, is designed to compete with the ubiquitous Windows and MacOS systems. Earlier versions of the software had already been put into use on the computers of some ministries, state media reported.

OpenKylin users have access to the software’s code lines and can modify them as they wish, unlike Microsoft and Apple, which keep the workings of their Windows and MacOS systems a secret.

China has long viewed this lack of transparency as a vulnerability that has been amplified in recent years by geopolitical tensions with the United States.

OpenKylin, whose name refers to a legend in Chinese mythology, is based on the popular open source Linux operating system.

Windows is used on the majority of Chinese computers, although in recent decades Beijing has expressed a desire to create its own operating system.

In particular, the authorities have been looking for alternatives for use in highly secure computers, such as those used by the military.

Chinese space programs have already used previous versions of OpenKylin, including the Chang’e moon and Tianwen Mars missions, according to state-owned CGTN television.

Microsoft released a version of Windows specifically for the Chinese government in 2017 in collaboration with a local joint venture to address security concerns.

Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, which is facing US sanctions, launched its HarmonyOS operating system for smartphones and tablets in 2021 after being denied a license for the Google-owned Android operating system.