China launches trillion-yuan 'Anke' programme to replace foreign tech with domestic alternatives

Dubbed “Anke” - an abbreviation for security and reliability - the Chinese government is executing a multitrillion-yuan program to replace imported technology with domestically produced alternatives in virtually all layers of its digital infrastructure. The effort began with e-government systems and has expanded to the military, public security, healthcare, education and state-owned enterprises, covering chips, servers, operating systems, databases, AI processors and even office air-conditioning.

Coordination falls to the Central Leading Group for the Promotion of Secure and Reliable Applications, which works closely with the CCP Central Committee’s General Office and a wide array of ministries, including the Ministry of State Security. Publicly released evaluation results in 2026 show several Chinese AI chips and databases achieving top security grades, confirming the breadth of the push. Officials argue the drive is about maintaining control and resilience against possible export bans, while critics warn that state-directed hardware could pose espionage risks abroad. The project reflects a broader ideological push for technological self-reliance amid rising geopolitical tensions.