China launches probe into Palo Alto Networks as US trade tensions intensify

August 6, 2026 1 min read

Beijing has launched a cybersecurity review into products sold in China by US technology firm Palo Alto Networks, the Cyberspace Administration of China announced on Thursday.

The administration said the probe was being conducted to “ensure the secure and stable operation of critical information infrastructure, prevent cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, and safeguard national security”.

Palo Alto Networks is a leading US cybersecurity and cloud computing provider, whose solutions are used by tens of thousands of clients in industries ranging from finance to technology and energy.

The move comes just a day after Beijing imposed sanctions on a string of US companies and tightened controls over the drone supply chain, stating the measures were a response to earlier US actions that had harmed China’s interests.

Last week, Washington effectively banned the import and sale of foreign robotic devices and power inverters – two sectors where Chinese companies are leading players – and imposed sanctions on dozens of Chinese entities.

China and the United States have been locked in an uneasy “trade truce” for months, with both sides looking to avoid a renewed tariff war while racing to “de-risk” their economies by plugging holes in their supply chains that could be weaponised by the other side.

Palo Alto Networks has maintained a significant presence in the Chinese market, operating multiple offices in cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Its solutions include advanced firewalls, cloud-native security platforms and global threat intelligence.

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