China Expects Post-Quantum Cryptography Standards Within Three Years

Insider Brief

• China is expected to establish national post-quantum cryptography standards within three years as part of a broader push to secure data against future quantum computing threats.
• The move aligns with global efforts, including U.S. standards finalized in 2024 and migration targets by 2035, as governments prepare for encryption systems that can withstand quantum attacks.
• China is prioritizing sectors such as finance and energy and pursuing distinct technical approaches, including structureless lattice algorithms, alongside expanded investment in quantum technologies.

China is moving to establish national standards for post-quantum cryptography within the next three years, signaling a push to secure data against future quantum computing threats.

Governments worldwide are preparing for a transition in encryption as quantum computers are expected to eventually break widely used security systems such as RSA. According to Reuters, China is positioning itself to play a central role in shaping the next generation of cryptographic standards, alongside ongoing efforts in the United States, South Korea, and other advanced economies.

China’s latest five-year plan, released last week, elevates quantum technology to a core strategic industry. It places quantum computing alongside emerging fields such as embodied artificial intelligence, nuclear fusion and brain-computer interfaces, and outlines a national objective to build scalable quantum computers. The designation reflects a broader effort by Beijing to integrate quantum capabilities into both economic and national security planning.

Post-quantum cryptography refers to encryption methods designed to remain secure even if large-scale quantum computers become practical. Current encryption systems rely on mathematical problems that are difficult for classical computers to solve but could be handled efficiently by robust quantum machines. This creates a long-term risk for sensitive data, including financial records, energy infrastructure controls and government communications.

Reuters reports that China is expected to prioritize sectors such as finance and energy for early adoption of quantum-resistant encryption, reflecting the high sensitivity and long lifecycle of data in those industries. Migration to new cryptographic systems is expected to take years, requiring upgrades to software, hardware, and communication protocols.

The United States has already taken a lead in formalizing standards, finalizing its first set of post-quantum cryptography algorithms in 2024. U.S. policymakers have set a target of achieving full industry migration by 2035. At the same time, China issued a global call last year to solicit proposals for its own standards, indicating an intent to shape international norms rather than simply adopt existing frameworks.

A leading Chinese cryptography expert, Wang Xiaoyun of Tsinghua University, indicated that the domestic industry could see rapid expansion over the next three to five years, according to Reuters. That growth would likely be driven by both government investment and the need for large-scale deployment across critical infrastructure.

One area where China is diverging from Western approaches is in the design of cryptographic algorithms. While many international standards rely on structured mathematical systems known as algebraic lattices, Chinese researchers have focused on so-called “structureless lattice” methods.

Unlike traditional lattice-based schemes that rely on regular algebraic structures to improve efficiency, structureless lattices remove those patterns to prioritize security, even if it can make computations more demanding.

China’s pursuit of the advantages of quantum — and the mitigation of some of its threats — extends beyond algorithms and PQC, Reuters points out. State media reported that China recently released a homegrown operating system for quantum computers as open-source software, a move that could support broader experimentation and ecosystem development.

Global competition in post-quantum cryptography is intensifying. Major technology companies, including Google, have urged faster adoption timelines, citing the risk that encrypted data collected today could be decrypted in the future once quantum computers mature. This “store now, decrypt later” threat has become a central concern for governments and industry.

The latest U.S. cyber strategy emphasizes maintaining leadership in both post-quantum cryptography and artificial intelligence, underscoring the strategic overlap between emerging technologies. Meanwhile, South Korea has outlined plans to deploy quantum-resistant encryption across key industries by 2035, with pilot programs beginning as early as 2025.