Beijing Urges Firms to Replace US, Israeli Cyber Software

As geopolitical frictions between China and the West deepen, Beijing has quietly signaled domestic companies to phase out cybersecurity software from major US and Israeli vendors. Framed as a national security necessity, the move underscores China’s accelerating push for technological self-reliance and tighter control over its digital ecosystem.

Recent guidance, circulated discreetly through regulators and industry bodies, urges state-owned and private firms to limit reliance on foreign cybersecurity products. Rather than announcing formal bans, authorities appear to be applying calibrated pressure—minimising diplomatic fallout while reshaping procurement behaviour across critical sectors.

Though officials have not named specific companies, industry sources suggest globally dominant players in endpoint security, firewalls, and threat intelligence are most affected. These tools are deeply embedded in enterprise and government networks, making cybersecurity a particularly sensitive domain for Beijing.

At the core of China’s stance is a belief that foreign cybersecurity software poses inherent risks. Such tools require deep system access, which Chinese policymakers fear could enable surveillance or hidden backdoors. This thinking aligns with President Xi Jinping’s long-standing “secure and controllable” doctrine embedded in China’s data and cybersecurity laws.

Economically, the transition may be costly in the short term. Western products often outperform domestic alternatives in advanced threat detection, potentially raising enterprise spending during the switch. However, Beijing sees long-term benefits in nurturing local champions and reducing dependence on foreign licensing and currency exposure.

Geopolitically, the move mirrors earlier US actions against Chinese technology firms, reinforcing a tit-for-tat tech decoupling. For Israel and the US—both cybersecurity powerhouses—the warning signals shrinking access to the world’s second-largest digital market.

More broadly, the episode reflects a fragmenting global internet. As China builds a full-stack sovereign digital infrastructure, cybersecurity is no longer neutral plumbing—it is strategic terrain. The result is a more divided, less interoperable digital world shaped increasingly by geopolitics rather than pure technology.