Recently, the Chinese government has been exploring the possibility of using Huawei’s HarmonyOS operating system as a viable alternative to other operating systems, including those from the West. HarmonyOS is an open-source operating system that is based on Android, which allows Huawei to continue producing and selling its high-end smartphones despite facing a series of US sanctions in 2019.
Given China’s reluctance to rely too heavily on Western technologies, their move towards a homegrown operating system like HarmonyOS is not surprising. Moreover, the US sanctions have greatly affected China’s trade activities, compelling the country to invest heavily in creating plans to build and develop its technology.
As a result, the Chinese government, along with some local governments, has taken action to promote the development and deployment of HarmonyOS. For instance, the Shenzhen city government has issued an “Action Plan to Support Development of Apps Developing native open source HarmonyOS by 2024,” which aims to increase the presence of the Huawei-developed operating system in the city. The plan seeks to have a minimum of 10% of all applications based on HarmonyOS by last year and is focused on finding developers who can create applications for HarmonyOS and improve the operating system.
To facilitate the mobilization of companies to this environment, the Shanghai government plans to establish two large industrial parks focused on software development, with a specific focus on HarmonyOS. These efforts are part of a larger push to take national technology to the next level, allowing China to achieve great change and reduce its reliance on Western technologies.