China follows Europe in switching to Linux with Windows being shown the door earlier than planned

According to a recent Bloomberg report, China has ordered several government agencies to drop Windows 10 China Government Edition in favor of Chinese-made Linux distributions ahead of its planned transition. China's decision not to adopt Windows 11 is a strong statement about the OS's intrusiveness and how much privacy it actually promises.

China has gradually been distancing itself from American companies on all fronts: software, hardware, media, etc. Most countries have expressed concerns about the reliability of privacy promises from US-based software and services. China aims to establish digital sovereignty with this approach. Even before this move, China has gradually implemented measures to shift from foreign technology to locally produced alternatives.

Chinese officials expressed concerns about Windows' digital security. However, Microsoft told Bloomberg that it was not aware of any security incident affecting Windows 10 China Government Edition. They also clarified that this version continued to receive regular security updates. The exclusive Chinese version of Windows was already set for retirement in February 2027, but these shifts have moved that retirement date up to late 2026.

The China Government Edition of Windows 10 was not developed by Microsoft; C&M Information Technologies (CMIT) developed it. CMIT itself is the product of a 2016 joint venture between Microsoft and the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group. This custom Windows build is designed to comply with Chinese government requirements and includes localized activation and update measures. It also removes certain customer services and adds support for Chinese cryptographic standards.

Now the question is: which Linux distribution will replace Windows? As mentioned earlier, it’s likely to be a locally produced Linux distribution. In fact, the stock prices of Chinese Linux suppliers Kylin Software and Tongxin Software Technology (UnionTech) jumped after news broke of the decision to replace Windows.

Kylin Software’s KylinOS features desktop, server, and other specialized editions. openKylin, a free and complete open-source version, also exists for anyone who wants to try it out. Meanwhile, UnionTech OS (UOS) is derived from Deepin and Debian Linux. Both firms had focused on government and enterprise customers rather than the average consumer market before this, so they were already candidates to replace Windows.

Huawei’s HarmonyOS 2, originally an Android variant but now a proprietary OS, is also being modified for PC use. However, since this will take significant time, KylinOS and UOS are the only established environments prepared for institutional deployment.

Migrating to another OS is never simple, and that is another major issue that the Chinese government will have to tackle. Application testing, driver and device support, file format compatibility, staff training, etc.; all of this must be confronted and resolved swiftly in an effective manner. In some cases, it may be necessary to replace or adapt Windows-dependent software.

There are no reports on how the Linux change will take place, though the sudden shift signals that the Chinese government is acting to address these obstacles promptly. But this does not mean there will be a national ban on Windows installations in China. Microsoft has already made a Chinese-language-only, restricted, factory-locked version of Windows 11 called Windows Home China 11 available in a bid to retain market share.

Another key detail is that this early shift to Linux applies only to some government bodies. China may be implementing the shift in gradual phases to make it smoother and more effective. Either way, the message is clear: Beijing has chosen not to compromise on privacy and has opted for Linux as its future government desktop environment even as its on-again, off-again spat with the White House over technology use and transfers continues.