Pakistan, Jan. 15 -- Chinese authorities have instructed domestic companies to phase out cybersecurity software made by several US and Israeli firms, citing national security risks, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The move marks Beijing's latest effort to reduce reliance on Western technology as geopolitical tensions with Washington intensify.

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Companies affected include Broadcom-owned VMware, Palo Alto Networks and Fortinet, as well as Israeli provider Check Point Software Technologies. Shares of some of the listed firms dipped in premarket trading, with Fortinet sliding nearly 3 percent.

Sources said Beijing fears foreign-made security software coul...