China's Experience in Implementing the IEC 61000 Series Standards as a Factor in Strengthening National Energy Security

This study examines China’s experience in standardization within the field of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) under the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It notes that while China and the IEC have a long-standing history of cooperation, China’s growing influence became particularly pronounced in the early 2000s when it began leading several committees and establishing new ones. The paper analyzes China’s activities in Subcommittee 77A, where it has not yet achieved dominance in terms of the number of representatives, nor secured a representative among the leadership. Key standards aimed at ensuring electromagnetic safety and protection against nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP) are discussed. The study outlines the Chinese regulatory bodies responsible for implementing these standards, including the Standardization Administration of China (SAC), the National Technical Committee on EMC Standardization, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). A comparative analysis between China’s national standards (based on the IEC 61000 series) and the corresponding international IEC regulations was conducted. It is noted that a significant portion of the IEC 61000 series standards (1 – 3, 4 – 23, 4 – 24, 5 – 8, 5 – 9) has not been adopted in China. The study forecasts China’s future engagement with the IEC in the field of electromagnetic safety, predicting that China will likely expand its influence within the organization and attempt to gain a leadership role in Subcommittee 77A to steer international standardization processes in a direction that aligns with its strategic interests. Under these circumstances, Russia must intensify its participation in the IEC to maintain its ability to influence electromagnetic compatibility standardization processes within one of the world’s leading electrotechnical organizations.

1. Tangredi S-J. Four Questions Indicating Unlearned Lessons Concerning Future Military Digital Systems and Fleet Design. The Cyber Defense Review 2022; 7(1): 175 – 180.

2. Pence S., Reynolds A-F. High-Altitude Nuclear Explosions: Myths and Reality. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) 2025: 1 – 10.

3. Shvets N. N., Orlov A. I., Sysoev V. S., Lepekhin N. M., Basov E. V. ABOUT THE ENERGY SECURITY OF RUSSIA UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC IMPULSE OF A HIGH-ALTITUDE NUCLEAR EXPLOSION. International Cooperation of Eurasian States: Politics, Economics, Law. 2022; 1(3): 45 – 57. (in Russ.)

4. Ricciardi S., Cedric S. Modern Electromagnetic Spectrum Battlefield: From EMS Global Supremacy to Local Superiority. PRISM 2021; 9(3): 122 – 139.

5. Weiming M., Junyong L. Research Progress and Challenges of Electromagnetic Launch Technology. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society 2023; 38(15): 3943 – 3959.

6. Levine D-A. Made in China 2025: China’s Strategy for Becoming a Global High-Tech Superpower and its Implications for the U.S. Economy, National Security, and Free Trade. Journal of Strategic Security 2020; 13(3): 1 – 16.

7. Büthe T. Alshadafan A-F. The Evolution of Transnational Rule Makers through Crises. Cambridge University Press 2023: 310 – 342.

8. Yang Y-H., Gao P., Zhou H. Understanding the evolution of China's standardization policy system. Telecommunications Policy 2023; 47(2): 1 – 15.