The company, which has close ties to the Chinese government, is wooing Japanese industries and universities with an anticipated US$11 billion in spending this year—the equivalent of what it spent on procurement in the U.S. last year. (Nikkei Asian Review)

Talking point: The move comes in the wake of Washington’s blacklisting of Huawei, which has faced accusations of espionage. Imposed in May, the blacklist has hamstrung Huawei’s attempts to penetrate the cell phone and 5G infrastructure markets in the country—as well as its ability to recruit the suppliers and R&D muscle needed to make those very products. In Japan, Huawei has a partner in manufacturing, physics and chemistry, along with an extensive university network. Due to a ban announced last December, Japan’s government and defence forces cannot use Huawei or ZTE computers, servers or telecommunications equipment. Meanwhile, the company has begun striking back at its critics in court, filing defamation suits against critics including a French journalist who said the company has ties to the Chinese government.