Beijing has begun issuing eID cards featuring payment capabilities to Chinese citizens under a nationwide pilot, local media reports.The cards have been developed by the Number 3 Research Institute of the Ministry of Public Security, reports the Xinmin Evening News, adding that the cards have passed the State Cryptography Administration's security check.The card used on public service platforms, online trading platforms, third-party payments and social networks which involve financial security, property safety and privacy of Internet applications, adds the state-run Global Times.In February, China announced sweeping new regulations that would require users of an array of Internet services to register with their real names.The Xinmin Evening News adds that more than 16 million IC bank cards loaded with the chip have already been distributed by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, while other banks such as the Bank of Shanghai and China Minsheng Bank are also planning to issue the cards."This is seen as an important government move to improve cyberspace management," Qin An, director of the China Institute of Cyberspace Strategy, said.In November, China's Ministry of Public Security said it had developed eID card techology which it says improves users online security.The eID cards developed by the ministry use an algorithm called Guomi SM2 which employs security techniques approved by the State Security Cryptography Administration Office, reported the China Times.As of January 2012, the China Resident Identity Card Law has required citizens to have fingerprints recorded when applying for, renewing or replacing their resident identity cards.Second-generation cards featuring RFID technology were launched in 2006, and China has more than a billion resident ID cards in circulation.

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