China could have its own operating system in place by October to take on imported systems currently offered by tech giants such as Microsoft, Google and Apple. Initial reports suggest the system would first appear on desktop computers and then later expand to smartphones and other mobile devices. According to Ni Guangnan, who heads a development alliance created in March, the domestically built software could replace desktop operating systems within 1-2 years and mobile systems within 3-5 years.

The new “China Operating System” (COS) is state-approved and government-funded. It is reportedly a full-blown OS complete with app stores, designed to provide an alternative to systems created in the West so the country can end its dependency on Windows, iOS and Android.

“Creating an environment that allows us to contend with Google, Apple and Microsoft — that is the key to success,” Ni said.

“In May, China banned government use of Windows 8, Microsoft’s latest operating system, a blow to the U.S. technology firm’s business which raised fears China was moving to protect domestic firms,” reports Reuters. “In March last year, China said that Google had too much control over China’s smartphone industry via its Android mobile operating system and has discriminated against some local firms.”

Tension between the U.S. and China has escalated over hacking since whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed the use of various surveillance tools. In May, the Justice Department indicted five Chinese military officers for industrial espionage.

This is not the first time the Chinese government has tried to create its own operating system, and Digital Trends lists five reasons why it believes this latest attempt will fail:

• They’ve tried and failed before (Red Flag Software closed its doors earlier this year).
• Nobody wants to be forced to use anything.
• COS looks somewhat familiar (COS looks a lot like the version of Android running on HTC smartphones).
• Choosing to not go open source closes doors.
• Government and tech often don’t make a good mix.