China firms invest billions in US despite bilateral tensions

New York

AS China increasingly flexes its financial muscle, the country's companies are spreading their wealth broadly across the United States instead of chasing major lawmakers or causes.

A new study, which looked at Chinese investment by congressional district, found that the money was scattered across every region. Chinese companies are buying trophy properties in New York. They are building manufacturing operations in the Midwest. And they are snapping up Internet companies in California.

In all, Chinese companies have…