中国太空网

China Sees More Backing For Home-Grown Encryption

A growing number of Chinese telecom and computer companies support a local encryption standard for wireless Internet that challenges US technology in the field, state media said Wednesday. The WAPI encryption standard, a Chinese-made rival of the US-backed 802.11 standard, has received the endorsement of companies such as cellphone operator China Mobile and PC vendor Lenovo, the China Daily reported.

"A complete WAPI industry chain is already taking shape and it is set to prevail in China," said Jiang Shiping, chairman of the WAPI alliance, an industry group pushing the standard.

Encryption software transforms messages into virtually unbreakable code in order to make sure the information does not wind up in the wrong hands.

China has been pushing hard for its own standards in a range of product categories including third-generation mobile phones, digital TV and home networking in a bid to leverage domestic firms and reduce reliance on foreign technologies.

The China Daily said technology standards issue will likely be discussed at the two-day Sino-US Strategic Economic Dialogue, which started in Washington on Tuesday.