(Beijing) – Facing a sharp economic slowdown at home, Chinese companies are buying U.S. assets at a record pace, making huge bids for American energy, aviation, entertainment and other businesses. The increase in investment of $8 billion this year, comes despite lingering American anxieties about potential breaches of national security and loss of technology to the powerful Asian competitor.
With U.S. real estate prices depressed and many firms in the West starved for cash, the Chinese see a prime opportunity to rummage through the bargain bins of rich countries to gain technological know-how and international reach.