FT: Huawei Backs Chinese Lithography Vendors and Brokers Their Deals With SMIC to Cut Foreign Reliance

The Financial Times reports Huawei is investing in Chinese lithography firms and helping them close deals with leading fabs like SMIC, part of a broader push to reduce dependence on ASML and other foreign tool suppliers. Huawei's Hubble investment arm has backed more than 60 Chinese semiconductor companies since coming under US sanctions in 2019, with the newest push aimed at closing the domestic gap on the equipment needed for 7nm and 5nm production. The story ties to Huawei's separate Shanghai R&D center focused on lithography and fab equipment.