China Launches Security Checks to Boost Military Self-Reliance

The Central Military Commission and departments under the State Council of China have initiated security checks of military supply chains to increase defense industry self-reliance. This effort follows the passage of a revised National Defense Mobilization Law, which takes effect October 1 and mandates comprehensive surveys of military hardware, supplies, and special production equipment to improve resilience.

While China has made progress in specialized alloys and hypersonic weapons, the government acknowledges a continuing dependence on foreign design software and high-end chips. To mitigate these vulnerabilities, the government is replacing older versions of Microsoft Windows with homemade operating systems across the military and state-owned firms.

This initiative aligns with broader global trends toward strategic autonomy. It mirrors recent actions by the United States, which now requires defense contractors to identify components sourced from adversary countries following Chinese export restrictions on rare earth minerals.