China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Thursday announced new export control measures on rare earths and related technologies, prompting discussions among netizens over a change in document format and a new requirement that future application materials be submitted in Chinese.
The announcements, MOFCOM Announcement No. 61 and No. 62 of 2025, outline detailed decisions on implementing export controls for rare-earths and related technologies. Unlike prior notices, the attachments were released in WPS format, a file type developed by Chinese software company Kingsoft, rather than the more common Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe PDF formats.
Previously, official attachments were typically provided in Word or PDF formats. The switch to WPS format, along with the stipulation that future applications must be submitted in Chinese, quickly drew attention and sparked lively discussion on Sina Weibo over the weekend. Many users viewed the move as a symbolic but meaningful step toward technological self-reliance and software localization.
“Microsoft and Adobe are both American companies, so this move prevents foreign operating systems from becoming chokepoints,” one netizen commented. Others suggested the change carries broader implications: “The signal is clear that industries should prepare for full localization.” “Once the government agencies and state-owned enterprises switch to WPS, private companies are to follow suit,” another added.
Announcement No. 61, which details the export control decision on rare earths, states that foreign entities applying for dual-use rare-earth export licenses “shall submit the required documents in accordance with Article 16 of the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Export Control of Dual-Use Items and the requirements of MOFCOM’s online licensing system, and all documents shall be in Chinese.”
Some observers also noted that the requirement for Chinese-language submissions signals stricter regulatory control over procedural details, emphasizing the government’s intent to tighten oversight of export applications.
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