China has announced a global call for new cryptographic algorithms to counter the security threats posed by quantum computing, signaling a move away from US-led efforts in the field.

The Institute of Commercial Cryptography Standards (ICCS), which operates under the Chinese Cryptography Standardization Technical Committee, is soliciting proposals for post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) algorithms. The initiative aims to establish national standards for encryption that can withstand quantum attacks, covering public-key cryptography, cryptographic hash functions and block ciphers. According to ICCS, the effort encourages international participation, with algorithms being evaluated for security, performance, and implementation feasibility.