Beijing Sets Aggressive Targets for Computing Growth
China plans to deploy massive artificial intelligence computing clusters that pack 100,000 accelerator cards apiece. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, known as MIIT, released a five-year industry plan on Monday detailing this push. The government aims for 9,800 eflops of intelligent computing capacity by 2030. Achieving this requires 3.8 trillion yuan in cumulative infrastructure spending between 2026 and 2030.
This goal signals a major shift in how the nation handles large-scale data processing. The plan dictates an orderly rollout of clusters equipped with 10,000 graphics processing cards, alongside facilities tailored to specific applications. Beijing also wants to prioritize home-grown chips for these clusters. This focus reflects an attempt to lessen reliance on foreign hardware in an era of tightening trade restrictions.
The Current State of Infrastructure
Expansion is moving at high speed already. By June 2026, China’s intelligent computing capacity reached 2,185 eflops. This is a 177 per cent increase from the previous year. MIIT data shows the country currently maintains 52 facilities, each holding more than 10,000 accelerator cards. To hit the 2030 target, the state must increase its capacity by more than four times the June level.
Usage rates explain this urgency. Daily token consumption in China jumped from 100 billion in early 2024 to 140 trillion by March 2026. This data comes from the National Data Administration. The massive spike in usage necessitates the construction of these new clusters to avoid bottlenecks in local AI development. The government is also linking previously fragmented resources across different regions to improve efficiency.
Integrating Data and Connectivity
Efforts center on the "East Data, West Computing" project launched in 2022. This initiative shifts power-heavy workloads from crowded coastal areas to the interior. Energy is cheaper and land is more available in western provinces. Eight national computing hubs now act as the spine of this network. These hubs currently house over 80 per cent of the national intelligent computing capacity.
Hardware is only one part of the strategy. The MIIT plan also addresses future communications standards. It calls for the launch of commercial 6G services at a strategic moment. Integrating 5G with the BeiDou satellite navigation system remains a top priority. Authorities also want to expand the use of embedded SIM cards across consumer and industrial devices.
Future Implications for Global Tech
China already controls 69 per cent of the world's 5G base stations, totaling 5.1 million units. With the 5G rollout largely finished, the focus moves to 5G-Advanced and preparatory tests for 6G. Industry players like China Mobile are already testing advanced networks in 330 cities. Meanwhile, international standards bodies such as 3GPP have begun drafting the framework for 6G, with a final release slated for 2029.
Still, challenges remain. Local chips accounted for 41 per cent of domestic shipments in 2025, but software compatibility lags behind. Finding ways to bridge the gap between custom hardware and existing software ecosystems will likely define the success of this five-year plan. The global market will watch these figures closely, as China attempts to build a self-sufficient pipeline for the next wave of AI development.