China blocks Word, mandates domestic software during trade war

China's Ministry of Commerce is now exclusively using domestic software, blocking Microsoft Word. This move signals a strong push for technological self-sufficiency amid escalating trade tensions with the US. The ministry's recent export control documents on rare earths could only be opened with China's WPS Office, not American software. This follows US threats to restrict critical software exports to China. This shift aligns with China's broader policy to replace foreign technology with domestic alternatives, particularly in public institutions and strategic sectors, to mitigate risks from foreign tech dependencies.