BEIJING, May 20  -- China has announced that it will forbid the use of the Windows 8 operating system in new government computers, a move to ensure computer security after the shutdown of Windows XP.

All desktops, laptops and tablet PCs to be purchased by state organs must be installed with operating systems other than Windows 8, according to an online statement by the Central Government Procurement Center.

The measure only targets computers used by government offices, while the personal computer market is expected to stay unaffected.