China’s Shift to Domestic File Format Amid U.S. Tech Tensions
China has begun using its locally developed WPS file format for official documents, a move that underscores its strategy to minimize dependence on U.S. software like Microsoft Word. The Ministry of Commerce’s latest export control documents were released exclusively in W’PS, making them incompatible with Microsoft Word and other American software. This action comes amid escalating trade and technology disputes between Beijing and Washington.
The shift to a domestic file format is part of a broader trend of China’s efforts to assert technological sovereignty and reduce its reliance on foreign technology. U.S. President Donald Trump has responded by threatening additional tariffs on Chinese imports and suggesting potential restrictions on the export of critical software. Foreign tech firms like Adobe and Citrix have also been retreating from the Chinese market, while Microsoft has closed its AI research lab in Shanghai and all its physical stores in mainland China.
China’s move to replace Microsoft Word with WPS is not an isolated event. Last month, China announced new restrictions on the export of certain strategic minerals with both civilian and military uses, citing national security. These measures expand licensing requirements and follow similar steps earlier this year to tighten control over high-tech materials. The decision reflects a growing emphasis on safeguarding domestic industries and critical technologies from external influences.
In addition to the export controls, the Chinese government has been taking steps to limit the impact of U.S. sanctions on its tech sector. In September, regulators reportedly ordered major Chinese companies to cancel testing and purchases of Nvidia’s AI chips. According to financial news reports, China’s chipmakers aim to triple the country’s total output of AI processors. This indicates a concerted effort to develop indigenous technology capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains.
The growing trade tensions between the United States and China are reshaping global business operations and technological innovation. The use of domestic software like WPS is a symbolic yet significant step in this geopolitical struggle. As the U.S. threatens further economic measures, China’s response underscores the deepening conflict over technology, trade, and national security in the Asia-Pacific region.