A screenshot of the official website of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) Photo: MOFCOM

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Thursday announced export control measures on rare earths and related technologies, sparking discussions among Chinese netizens over changes to the attached document's format and a fresh requirement that future application materials be submitted in Chinese language. 

The two documents - MOFCOM Announcement No. 61 and No. 62 of 2025 - contain detailed decisions to implement the export control measures on rare-earths and related technologies. Unlike previous notices, the attachments for both announcements were released in WPS format, a file type developed by Chinese software company Kingsoft, instead of the more common Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe PDF formats.

A Global Times review of past MOFCOM announcements found that official attachments were typically provided in Word or PDF formats. The adoption of WPS format this time, together with a new stipulation that future application materials should be submitted in Chinese, has prompted heated discussions among Chinese netizens.

In Announcement No. 61, which spells out the export control decision on rare earths, MOFCOM notes that foreign entities applying for dual-use rare-earth item 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."

This specific language - requiring submissions in Chinese - did not appear in previous announcements, the Global Times found.

The fresh document format and Chinese-language requirement quickly became trending topics on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo over the weekend. Many users interpreted the use of WPS format as a symbolic but important 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 a message of significance: "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 netizen wrote.

Some also noted that the requirement for Chinese-language submissions reflects stronger regulatory control in finer procedural details.

A MOFCOM spokesperson said during the weekend that rare-earth items have both civilian and military applications, and imposing export controls on them is a common international practice. "The Chinese government's decision to regulate certain overseas rare-earth items containing Chinese components is aimed at better safeguarding national security and interests, as well as more effectively fulfilling its international non-proliferation obligations," the statement read.

Global Times