China’s sustained investment in its semiconductor equipment ecosystem is starting to alter the global balance of power. Markets once controlled by US and Japanese giants are now being reshaped by the rapid ascent of Chinese equipment makers.

Chinese tech giant Huawei, the first company in the world to launch a tri-fold smartphone, has unveiled its latest tri-fold model, the Mate XTs Ultimate Design, just one year after its initial launch. Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group, revealed that the new device is powered by the Kirin 9020 chip. This marks the first time in four years that Huawei has publicly disclosed a new generation of Kirin chips at a product launch event.

Chinese semiconductor equipment maker SiCarrier has booked over CNY10 billion (US$1.4 billion) in orders and is mobilizing upstream suppliers for large-scale production. With nearly 20,000 employees, the Shenzhen-based firm is emerging as a key force in China’s drive to localize chipmaking gear as global export restrictions tighten.