China launches security review of Palo Alto Networks products, escalating tech cold war

China’s Cyberspace Administration has opened a formal national security review into products sold by Palo Alto Networks within the country. The announcement, made on August 6, adds another chapter to what is starting to look less like a trade dispute and more like a full-blown technological divorce. This review didn’t come out of nowhere. Back in January 2026, Chinese authorities ordered domestic firms to stop using cybersecurity software from Palo Alto Networks and more than a dozen other companies, including Fortinet, Check Point, CrowdStrike, and VMware. The deadline for transitioning to domestic alternatives was set for the first half of 2026. The Cybersecurity Review Office cited national security laws and the need to protect critical information infrastructure in its announcement. It did not provide specific details about what exactly triggered the review, its scope, or its expected timeline. What makes this escalation notable is the sequencing. First came the order to stop using the products. Now comes the formal security review. Palo Alto Networks is one of the largest cybersecurity companies in the world, and its products are widely deployed across enterprise and governmen...