US fast food giants rush into China despite tensions
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American fast food chains like KFC, McDonald's, and Starbucks are expanding rapidly in China despite economic and political tensions. They see China's 1.4 billion population as too lucrative to ignore.
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These low-tech investments contrast with pullbacks by tech firms wary of China's business climate and US export controls on sensitive technology.
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Surveys show worsening optimism among US and European companies in China, with some shifting investments elsewhere in Asia.
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Factors worrying companies include China's economic slump, unpredictable policies, US-China frictions over Taiwan and human rights abuses.
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US policymakers welcome "de-risking" but not "decoupling", wanting to keep trading with China but curb reliance on it for militarily sensitive tech.