Chinese authorities have told domestic companies to stop using cybersecurity software made by roughly a dozen firms from the US and Israel due to national security concerns, two people briefed on the matter said.
Broadcom-owned AVGO.O VMware, Palo Alto Networks PANW.O, and Fortinet FTNT.O are among the US firms whose cybersecurity software has been banned, while Check Point Software Technologies CHKP.O is among the Israeli companies, they said.
Reuters was not able to establish how many Chinese companies received the notice, which the sources said was issued in recent days.
Chinese authorities expressed concern that the software could collect and transmit confidential information abroad, said the sources, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the situation.
China's internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China, and the Industry and Information Technology Ministry had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication. The four companies also did not reply to Reuters queries.
Ban comes as US, China battle for tech supremacy
As the US and China battle for tech supremacy amid heightened trade and diplomatic tensions, Beijing has been keen to replace Western-made technology with domestic alternatives.
While its efforts to build up its semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors have dominated headlines, it has also sought to replace Western computer equipment and word processing software.
Chinese analysts have also said that Beijing has become increasingly concerned that Western equipment could be hacked by foreign powers.
Additionally, the ban on Israeli cybersecurity software comes days after a Chinese envoy visited Israel.
Zhai Jun, the special envoy of the Chinese government on Middle East issues, was in Israel from Tuesday to Thursday. He also visited Ramallah, in the West Bank, to meet with senior Palestinian officials, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
According to Palestinian Media Watch, statements published by official PA-affiliated outlets have recently doubled down on the PA's support for China’s “One China” policy.