The value of Chinese overseas acquisitions announced in the first nine months totaled about $191bn, almost double the inflows of foreign investment. The acquisitions are generally welcomed by recipient countries, but signs of resistance are mounting in the US, Australia and recently in Europe too, according to the Financial Times. Nearly $40bn in planned Chinese deals have been scuppered since mid-2015, mostly because of tightened scrutiny over competition and national security concerns. The list of deals inviting examination is lengthening, with the proposed $44bn Chinese takeover of Swiss agribusiness Syngenta one of the latest to face delays. Amid signs of a protectionist backlash in Germany, Berlin has withdrawn approval for the Euro 670m acquisition of chip equipment maker Aixtron by Chinese interests citing “previously unknown security-related information.”
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