Summary

Between 2018 and 2019, the Chinese Association for Cryptologic Research (CACR) held a competition to select the most promising post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, generally similar to the NIST post-quantum competition. The competition, however, was open only to Chinese developers who had submitted a total of 36 applications, which were analyzed over the course of one year. The applications comprised the main areas of modern post-quantum cryptography. Three algorithms were awarded first place, four were placed second, and six got third place. Unfortunately, for the time being, the competition materials are only available in Chinese, making it difficult for the international community to access. In the future, however, another competition can be expected, this time at the international level – China is likely to be eager to standardize its post-quantum developments according to global standards.

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In August 2018, the Chinese Association for Cryptologic Research (CACR) announced a national competition to select the most promising quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms. The call for applications closed in February 2019, and the winners were announced in January 2020.

In contrast to the NIST competition, algorithms participating in the Chinese competition implemented cryptographic mechanisms for digital signature, public-key encryption and key agreement protocols of two security levels (128 and 256 bits), which correspond to NIST levels I and V.

There were three first places, four second places, and six third places awarded. The CACR experts prefer lattice-based algorithms.

Unfortunately, for the time being, there are only small fragments of competition materials available (in Chinese only), making it difficult for the international community to access. In the future, however, another competition can be expected, this time at the international level.

Although the CACR competition was held nationally, China's influence on the global data security industry is considerable, and therefore, China is likely to be eager to standardize its post-quantum developments internationally, for example, at the ISO level.

The QApp team is actively keeping up with the international trends in the standardization of quantum-resistant algorithms and is ready to add Chinese-developed cryptosystems to our main product, the PQLR SDK library, should they gain international recognition.