“China is to ban government use of Windows 2000 and is
developing its own Linux-based operating system instead, according
to reports this morning from Beijing. The move, which doesn’t seem
to have been entirely confirmed as yet, follows on from claims last
year that China intended to ban both Intel processors and Microsoft
software for security reasons….”
“But while you could maybe reckon this is just a bit of
price-gouging by China, the development of what seems to be called
Red Flag Linux (unless you want tanks on your lawn, Mr Young, we’d
caution you not to sue) is being justified for other reasons.
According to Chinese officials quoted in the paper the
development of an indigenous operating system is being seen as an
IT parallel to the cold war leaps China made in producing nuclear
weapons, missiles and satellites.“