The US and Europe should share info and track Chinese investment flows

TALK about a trade war between the United States and China may have overshadowed another major debate about the impact of Chinese investment, taking place on both sides of the Atlantic.

While the US Congress considers reforming the Committee on Foreign Investment of the US - CFIUS, an inter-agency committee tasked with reviewing in-bound investments for national security concerns - the European Union (EU) may move forward with a pan-European screening mechanism.

No doubt, an irked Beijing will have questions during the EU-China summit to take place in the Chinese capital on July 12-13. As China moves towards a more technology-oriented economy through its "Made in China 2025" strategy, some economists argue that the real debate should be about investment. China has set goals in sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, alternative-energy vehicles, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices and aviation. If it cannot achieve innovation, its alternative would be to acquire foreign innovative firms.