China Adds Domestic AI Chips to Government Procurement List

China’s official technology security bodies have certified nine domestically designed AI processors for state procurement, establishing a new category for "AI training and inference chips" under the country's Anke security framework [1]. This move marks the first time that artificial intelligence hardware has been formally included in the nation's "secure and reliable" technology assessment system [4].

Key takeaways

• The certification list includes chips from Huawei, Alibaba, Biren Technology, Hygon Information Technology, Iluvatar CoreX, MetaX, and Moore Threads [1].
• These approvals function as a de facto procurement catalog for government agencies and state-owned enterprises under the Xinchuang initiative [1].
• Domestic semiconductor firms accounted for 41% of local AI server shipments in 2025, delivering 1.65 million AI GPUs [1].
• The certifications are valid for three years and were issued by the China Information Technology Security Evaluation Centre and the National Secrecy Science and Technology Evaluation Centre [1].

Expanding the Xinchuang Initiative

The Xinchuang program, a long-standing campaign to replace foreign hardware and software in sensitive Chinese IT systems, has historically focused on CPUs and database software [1]. By creating a specific category for AI training and inference, Beijing is signaling a pivot toward securing the infrastructure required for advanced artificial intelligence [4]. While Huawei and Cambricon were previously included in a separate state approval mechanism in December, the current list represents a significant expansion, now covering nine distinct chips from seven different vendors [1].

Notably, some prominent developers were absent from this latest certification. Both Cambricon Technologies and the Baidu-backed firm Kunlunxin did not appear on the list [3]. An anonymous source indicated that companies may choose whether to submit their products for testing, meaning that exclusion from the list does not necessarily imply a failed evaluation [1]. Each chip must pass rigorous tests under the Anke V3.0 requirements to qualify for the three-year certification [1].

Challenges in Domestic Adoption

Despite the push for technological independence, domestic firms face ongoing hurdles in transitioning away from established Western hardware. While Chinese semiconductor firms are increasing their market share, they remain constrained by limited wafer fabrication capacity [1]. Manufacturers are competing for production slots at SMIC, which currently utilizes its N+2 process—roughly equivalent to 7nm—to produce these chips [1].

Furthermore, practical implementation remains a challenge for state-linked entities. Some institutions have reported difficulty adapting systems originally built on Nvidia hardware to domestic alternatives, with some executives noting that rewriting trading models for new architectures requires significant effort [2]. Despite these "growing pains," policymakers continue to emphasize that reducing reliance on foreign technology is a critical national security priority [2].