Post-Quantum Protection in China
China has trialed post-quantum security measures on its Origin Wukong supercomputer, a system that has been operating on superconducting qubits for more than two years. This announcement comes from the Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Computing Chips and the Anhui Research Center for Quantum Computing, both based in Hefei. The platform handled 49 million user requests from 192 countries and demonstrated the functioning of a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) system.
Notably, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has estimated that quantum computers could break current cryptographic systems within the next 5 to 10 years. In response, the U.S. National Security Agency has urged federal agencies to transition to post-quantum cryptography. Facing these challenges, China is actively developing its own national standards for post-quantum cryptography, with plans to finalize them within the next three years.
Integration of Emerging Technologies
In 2024, the Origin Wukong supercomputer integrated Origin Rock, China’s first software-based cryptographic module for post-quantum protection. This framework has already been deployed across other enterprises and government institutions within the country. The Origin Wukong supercomputer is also expected to advance scalable programmable computing.
Wang Xiaoyun, a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study at Tsinghua University, stated that 'the next three to five years could be a period of explosive growth for the post-quantum cryptography industry migration.'
The Chinese government plans to simultaneously develop artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and 6G technologies alongside post-quantum computing. In this way, the country is actively preparing for challenges that may arise from the advancement of quantum technologies.
China’s progress in post-quantum cryptography is a significant step within the global competition in quantum technology. Given expert forecasts about the potential threat quantum computers pose to existing security systems, China’s initiatives could substantially strengthen its position on the international stage. These technological achievements may also encourage other nations to accelerate their own research in post-quantum cryptography and data security.