China is ramping up its efforts to build a robust computing power infrastructure by the end of 2025, in response to recent US sanctions. According to an official announcement reported by Xinhua on Thursday, the country has invested over 43.5 billion yuan (approximately $6.1 billion) in data center projects over the past two years.
This investment has been channeled into the development of eight computing hubs, as part of the “East Data, West Computing” initiative launched in 2022 by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The strategy focuses on storing data in the more industrially advanced eastern regions of China while processing it in the less densely populated western areas, which offer abundant land and energy resources.
The $6.1 billion funding has led to the establishment of three server hubs on the eastern coast and five hubs in central and western China. Liu Liehong, head of the National Data Administration, revealed at a big data expo in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, that the total investment in these hubs has now exceeded 200 billion yuan (about $28.2 billion).
The number of data center racks has also surged to more than 1.95 million. This ambitious project is a cornerstone of China’s strategy to enhance its digital infrastructure, with plans to create 10 national data center clusters as part of the broader initiative.
The drive comes amid tightened US restrictions on exports of advanced computing technologies. Liu emphasized that, as computing power becomes increasingly crucial for the digital economy, China will support cities in developing