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Blocked From US Tech Investing, China Goes To Israel Instead (cnet.com)

Struggling to seal deals in the United States as regulatory scrutiny tightens, Chinese companies looking to invest in promising technology are finding a warmer welcome for their cash in Israel. From a report: Unfazed by this change, which was brought on in part by a new administration focused on US protectionism, Chinese investors are putting their money in Israeli companies instead. Last year, Chinese investment in Israel surged tenfold to $16.5 billion, a record, with money going to Israeli internet, cybersecurity and medical device companies. In contrast, Chinese investors scrapped a record $26.3 billion in previously announced US deals.

73 comments

  1. Ok, who has the time machine? by will_die · · Score: 3, Insightful

    First you had claims about use of a time machine to get access to servers now there are claims that trump went back into the past and implemented restrictions that are not even in place now.
    How is this happening and how do I get a ride?

    1. Re:Ok, who has the time machine? by Tablizer · · Score: 0

      They just use the same time machine O used to put a fake birth announcement in the 1961 Hawaiian newspaper.

    2. Re:Ok, who has the time machine? by geek · · Score: 1

      Blaming the sitting president is sure to get clicks from at least 50% of the viewers.

    3. Re: Ok, who has the time machine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No closer to 90% ..half the people show up to bitch at the other half for talking bad about their candidate.

    4. Re:Ok, who has the time machine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just because the last administration was full of idiots doesn't mean the current administration isn't also full of idiots. And it also doesn't mean that the current even more extreme round of protectionist policy isn't going to cause even more of the same loss of business as the last batch of idiots' protectionist policies.

      But whatever, Hillary is a crook etc.

      I hope our next viable candidate is a Macron, because I don't like any of the usual options any more and it's about time we get an actual outsider, not just a rich "outsider" who just wants to really be an insider.

    5. Re:Ok, who has the time machine? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Insightful

      When deciding whether or not to invest in a country, any reasonable company would consider not just current law, but likely future restrictions and attitudes as well.

      According to Trump:
      1. If American companies create jobs elsewhere, that is bad for America and good for foreigners.
      2. If foreign companies create jobs in America, that is also bad for America and good for foreigners.

    6. Re:Ok, who has the time machine? by SCVonSteroids · · Score: 1

      You're being very optimistic about the general viewer-base there.

      --
      I tend to rant.
    7. Re:Ok, who has the time machine? by Farmer+Tim · · Score: 2

      I hope our next viable candidate is a Macron...

      That's a little round meringue, isn't it?

      --
      Blank until /. makes another boneheaded UI decision.
    8. Re:Ok, who has the time machine? by jandersen · · Score: 3, Insightful

      First you had claims about use of a time machine to get access to servers now there are claims that trump went back into the past and implemented restrictions that are not even in place now.

      Investors are very sensitive to what they think is likely to happen in the near future - with Trump going on about 'taking on' China imposing enormous tariffs etc, what did anyone expect Chinese investors to do? Ladle the cash into the US until suddenly a tariff hits them? Just imagine how fast foreign companies would pull all their investments out of China, if their government started talking about stuff like that. It's probably called due diligence or something like that. Or common sense.

    9. Re:Ok, who has the time machine? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      No, you're thinking of macaroni.

      A Macron is someone from North Africa.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    10. Re:Ok, who has the time machine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      god damn you are a fucking retard - learn to read full paragraphs faggot

    11. Re:Ok, who has the time machine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dr. Trump had access to Tesla writings confiscated by the FBI. He managed to trick the feds into thinking they were worthless because time travel is impossible, but he spent the rest of his life finishing the machine. Although he couldn't finish Tesla's greatest work, Dr. John Trump passed on the task to Donald Trump after his death. It remained ignored for many years, until a young Barron Trump stumbled on it by accident. Some say he lost his mind over it, but from that day on the eccentric Barron Trump dedicated every waking moment to accomplishing the impossible. Ignoring the warnings of the futility of his quest given by his future self he met in the past, Barron goes back in time for the first time to try to prevent the Mexican Empire from enslaving humanity through GMO fajitas.

    12. Re: Ok, who has the time machine? by dougdonovan · · Score: 1

      can u say "hire americans".

    13. Re:Ok, who has the time machine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      no but a macaroon is also french

    14. Re: Ok, who has the time machine? by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Both the previous one and the current one are bad in this area (and for what it's worth, Bernie would be even worse than these two.)

      The thing is, mercantilism is a concept that has no merit whatsoever. Having a trade deficit can be perfectly healthy for an economy, and historically when countries attempt to correct a trade deficit, they just make things much worse for themselves. Things like tariffs end up costing you much more in the long term than they supposedly save in the short term. The steel tariffs for example cost our economy about $300,000 a year per job it supposedly saves.

      What this comes down to is two things:
      - Domestic production rises and falls almost in lock-step with imports
      - We're on a global economy. If we restrict our steel imports, then any domestic goods we produce that use steel will cost us more money to produce. Meanwhile, other countries that buy cheaper foreign (to them) steel can now undercut our goods that are produced using steel, which means that we then sell fewer of steel based goods.

      For what it's worth, practically all economists agree that tariffs and other trade barriers are bad for all parties involved.

    15. Re: Ok, who has the time machine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "practically all" New speak for "hardly any".

    16. Re: Ok, who has the time machine? by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 1
    17. Re: Ok, who has the time machine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trade deficits in the past lead to Nixon having to close the gold window, they were going to run out of gold. Trade deficits can work for the US because the USD is the reserve currency.

      The current trade imbalance has worked as a major headwind for the US workforce. Automation has been a huge part of that, but so has globalization.

    18. Re:Ok, who has the time machine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who mentioned Trump?

  2. Makes sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In a twisted demented Trump sort of way.

    1. Re:Makes sense by AlanObject · · Score: 2

      Every investment culture has its own quirks. I haven't been in an investment scenario with Israeli tech companies but I do know they tend to be quite arrogant. And yes they consider contracts as a sort of weapon.

      With Chinese you have to have the business model down pat. The contract almost doesn't matter. They pay attention to cash flow and as long as that is going along agreeably then you will be fine. They are often also quite a bit more sophisticated than they might appear.

  3. Makes sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Israel has second hottest startup / VC culture after Silicon Valley. High quality advanced tech. Smart move by the Chinese. Background info, with China's economy slowing, and difficulty moving cash overseas to protect it from the government, investment is a smart way to transfer the cash, and with Israeli techs excellent record, there's a high chance of a tidy profit to boot.

  4. Contracts by psergiu · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have dealt with Israeli companies before. Everything is fine as long as you pay very carefully attention to the wordings in the contracts. You need both legal and technical teams to go over each revision.
    Both their legal and technical teams are usually very good, and once the contract is signed, they keep their part of the agreement. To the letter.
    I wish the Chinese good luck.

    --
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    1. Re:Contracts by geek · · Score: 1

      Dealing with China is worse. First you sign the contract, then they start the negotiations. I've never hated business dealings as much as the ones I deal with from China.

    2. Re: Contracts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I would add that you should perform due diligence and pay close attention to any contract you sign, no matter who it is. I've heard that in China it's standard procedure to try to write contract with as many loopholes as possible to screw your partner, but that is second hand. I would advise the Israelis to be very careful also. The Chinese also like to steal technology as well.

    3. Re:Contracts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      As opposed to where exactly? Every place on earth is like this. No vendor is not going to screw you if they contract terms let them. That's why lawyers have jobs.

    4. Re:Contracts by Farmer+Tim · · Score: 2

      From my experience in the Read instruction manual, China is an expert on the exact wording of the. I cannot see what the problem.

      --
      Blank until /. makes another boneheaded UI decision.
    5. Re:Contracts by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Dealing with China is worse. First you sign the contract, then they start the negotiations.

      You are doing it wrong. Chinese courts are so biased and dysfunctional that written contracts are basically unenforceable. They are a waste of time. Instead have a written agreement in English, and put the money in an escrow account under American jurisdiction. When they deliver the product, and it meets the spec, you release the escrow funds. If they don't deliver as agreed, then their only option is to sue you in America to get their money. If they won't agree to these terms, then go back to Alibaba and spend 5 minutes finding an alternative supplier.

      Chinese don't even trust each other, so escrow payments are common, and every significant supplier is familiar with how they work.

    6. Re:Contracts by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Interesting

      As opposed to where exactly? Every place on earth is like this.

      No they aren't. The level of shady business behavior in China is way beyond what you experience in America.

      That's why lawyers have jobs.

      Per capita, America has 20 times as many lawyers of China. In China, the courts are not effective at enforcing contracts, so lawyers aren't much help.

      There are plenty of stories about naive foreign companies trying to do business in China, but my favorite is when BAT (British American Tobacco) first entered the Chinese market. At first, they were surprised to see sales higher than expected. Sales continued to grow for several months, and they ramped up production. Then, after six months, sales plummeted to zero, and never recovered. They took huge losses on infrastructure and unsold merchandise. It took them a long time to figure out what happened. Their sales were high because their products were being purchased by their competitors, and stored in damp warehouses, where they grew stale and moldy. Then after six months, all the accumulated rotten cigarettes were dumped onto the wholesale market, crashing the price, and destroying BAT's reputation for quality.

    7. Re:Contracts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dealing with China is worse. First you sign the contract, then they start the negotiations.

      You are doing it wrong. Chinese courts are so biased and dysfunctional that written contracts are basically unenforceable. They are a waste of time. Instead have a written agreement in English, and put the money in an escrow account under American jurisdiction. When they deliver the product, and it meets the spec, you release the escrow funds. If they don't deliver as agreed, then their only option is to sue you in America to get their money. If they won't agree to these terms, then go back to Alibaba and spend 5 minutes finding an alternative supplier.

      Chinese don't even trust each other, so escrow payments are common, and every significant supplier is familiar with how they work.

      So, what you're saying is they are too reliant on escrows as trust. What I should start a legitimate escrow company in China (run it at a loss or whatever), build up a decent amount of business, then exit scam ala silk road.

    8. Re:Contracts by registrations_suck · · Score: 1

      Korea is the same way.

    9. Re:Contracts by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

      So, what you're saying is they are too reliant on escrows as trust.

      No. I said they rely on escrow. I did not say they are "too reliant". Escrow payments work well, and I think they are superior in many ways to the trust based system of "Net-30" payments, credit bureaus, and D&B ratings, that exist in America. Ask an American business owner how much it costs to manage accounts payable, accounts receivable, and how much money is spent on collections, and lost on delinquent accounts.

      I think many American businesses would prefer that we adopted a Chinese style payment system based on 3rd-party guarantees rather than "just trust us".

      What I should start a legitimate escrow company in China (run it at a loss or whatever), build up a decent amount of business, then exit scam ala silk road.

      Escrow companies are regulated and have connections to state owned financial institutions. Your chance of going to China and starting one is roughly zero.

    10. Re:Contracts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Israeli's are deceitful backstabbing scoundrels. Has China never heard of BDS?

    11. Re:Contracts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is EXTREMELY incorrect. Your method could also lead your company to basically banned from dealing with China.

      Go to www.chinalawblog.com

  5. This is a good thing. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Israel needs some investment. I don't think the chinese are up to the standard of Israeli lawyers though.

    1. Re:This is a good thing. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Israel needs some investment."

      No, no, NO!

      Israel already gets billions of charity (blackmail) dollars from the USA every year to fund their terror campaign against the Palestinian people.

      Israel needs divestment, not investment.

  6. New Trade Agreement by Thelasko · · Score: 2, Informative

    There's a new trade agreement that allows China to open banks in the US. That completely changes the landscape for Chinese investment in the US.

    --
    One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
  7. Israel has sold us out to China before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    One of the benefits of being a country that "can do no wrong." Intel's probably hiring armed guards as we speak.

    1. Re: Israel has sold us out to China before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All your intel pc chips are designed in China.

    2. Re: Israel has sold us out to China before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      no they arent

    3. Re: Israel has sold us out to China before by xPertCodert · · Score: 1

      Actually, many of those are designed in Intel Israel R&D centers

  8. About time... by dskoll · · Score: 2

    ,,, we've been eating at their restaurants every Christmas for years. Mazel Tov!

    1. Re:About time... by registrations_suck · · Score: 2

      I agree. Maybe the Chinese can start being the leading provider for foreign aid to Israel too, so the U.S. can stop such funding and use that money to build a wall instead.

    2. Re:About time... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or maybe the world can let Israel pay their own bills and fight their own wars for a change.

  9. Good! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm very much in favor of a more inclusive and multi-cultural Israel.

    Chinese speculators should be buying up all of their urban real estate, and pricing their working class out of homes.

  10. Maybe they like to use Laptops on their flights... by ffkom · · Score: 2

    and so rather like to go to Israel than to the US ;-)

  11. Actually Trump is to blame by rsilvergun · · Score: 2

    him and Sanders. TPP probably would have allowed the money to flow in, and it was Trump & Sanders demonizing the TPP that stopped it (If you honestly think a little thing like overwhelming public opposition was gonna stop the TPP you need to read up on how NAFTA as passed).

    Not that I'm a Trump fan, but TPP is no friend of me. As an IT worker it would accelerate outsourcing and H1-Bs taking what little jobs are left. Said it before, will say it again, you can't compete with India. Hell, I can't compete with China. I can't compete with anyone that lacks clean air and water unless I give up clean air and water...

    --
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    1. Re:Actually Trump is to blame by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The story was about last year.

      You are such a stupid shill, that doesn't care about issues like H1-B, that you didn't even READ the summary.
      You like the TPP only because Trump opposes it. If he supported it you would be against it (like you were last year), just like your shifting position on H1-B visas.

      Your comments are irrelevant.

    2. Re:Actually Trump is to blame by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

      TPP specifically excluded China. It was the "China is getting expensive, we want to trade with the next 3rd world under developed cheap labor market, but none of you are as big as China so let's do it all in one go" trade deal.

      Bernie also promised to axe the TPP.

      And don't be ridiculous. As an IT worker, you can't compete with anyone outside of the US and Europe with an Internet connection that speaks decent English. You can't even really compete with anyone from a smaller US town. You need 6 figures in San Fransisco to make a living. In bumble-fuck Iowa, 50K is good money.

      As soon as your job can be done remotely, you're fucked if you don't move out of that expensive house in that expensive town with those expensive hobbies.

  12. And then all their heads exploded by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Politicians can't be for China because DUH!
    Politicians can't be against Israel because DUH!

    (cue up scene from any one of the original Star Trek episodes with Kirk v. Computer)

    And then all their heads exploded.

  13. Know thy enemy... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan" (Revelation 2:9) Khazar Talmud jews (Jacob Javits' pal Rosenthal said it to Walter White ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=347to413eVU/ otherwise known as "The international Jew"...

    * They can't trace their lineage back to the Holy Land - they are FAKES who believe all non-jews (goyim/gentile) are all subhuman shit fit only to be killed, robbed & raped (this is STRAIGHT from Jacob Javits' assistant Rosenthal vs. Walter White & crew...).

    Look @ "Barbara Spectre" (fitting: Spectre = evil demon) for even MORE (as to using incompatible cultures to destroy one another - cultures these KHAZAR FAKE JEWS hate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFE0qAiofMQ/ )

    * Lastly - AFRAID OF TRUTH motherfuckers? Yes, obviously - why else TRY "downmod hide" last time I posted this https://news.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10605289&cid=54408103/ ?

    APK

    P.S.=> Any FOOL that gives me any guff? See that video & THEN try it (good luck you'll NEED it) - I didn't say it - JUDES did (fake jews who say they have "no problem" with KILLING THEIR OWN (ala George Soros, another FAKE JEW who worked for Hitler selling his own)) - then, I'll post what the "talmud" ACTUALLY SAYS if you give me shit (& I'll make you EAT your bullshit using your OWN crap to do so)... apk

    1. Re:Know thy enemy... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And we will be back to mod you down again, suck it up snowflake, youre just Slashdot equivalent of the crazy homeless guy yelling at non existant people.
      You have become just a running joke, and an object of derision, we dont even need to read your posts, your appalling formatting gives away who you are without the need to suffer through your dribbling lunacy.
      Poor snowflake, how does irrelevance feel?

  14. Know thy enemy... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan" (Revelation 2:9) Khazar Talmud jews (Jacob Javits' pal Rosenthal said it to Walter White ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=347to413eVU/ otherwise known as "The international Jew"... OR see here for text: http://www.antichristconspiracy.com/HTML%20Pages/Harold_Wallace_Rosenthal_Interview_1976.htm/

    * They can't trace their lineage back to the Holy Land - they are FAKES who believe all non-jews (goyim/gentile) are all subhuman shit fit only to be killed, robbed & raped (this is STRAIGHT from Jacob Javits' assistant Rosenthal vs. Walter White & crew...).

    Look @ "Barbara Spectre" (fitting: Spectre = evil demon) for even MORE (as to using incompatible cultures to destroy one another - cultures these KHAZAR FAKE JEWS hate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFE0qAiofMQ/ )

    * Lastly - AFRAID OF TRUTH motherfuckers? Yes, obviously - why else TRY "downmod hide" last 2 times I posted this https://news.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10605289&cid=54408103/ + https://news.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10605289&cid=54408219/ ?

    APK

    P.S.=> Any FOOL that gives me any guff? See that video & THEN try it (good luck you'll NEED it) - I didn't say it - JUDES did (fake jews who say they have "no problem" with KILLING THEIR OWN (ala George Soros, another FAKE JEW who worked for Hitler selling his own)) - then, I'll post what the "talmud" ACTUALLY SAYS if you give me shit (& I'll make you EAT your bullshit using your OWN crap to do so)... apk

  15. Re:Maybe they like to use Laptops on their flights by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe they'll start buying houses there and ruin the housing market for them too.

  16. Re:Know thy enemy... pak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And there it is, Slashdots own insane useless fat virgin troll lying his ass off in moms basement again.
    Hows it feel to be regarded by everyone as a complete and utter assclown?

  17. Is that the "best ya got"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: I don't see how your bs is convincing myself or anyone else that this transcript I read is a lie http://www.antichristconspiracy.com/HTML%20Pages/Harold_Wallace_Rosenthal_Interview_1976.htm/ or that what is said here in this video is a lie also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=347to413eVU/

    * No, it seems ALL YOU CAN DO is "downmod hide" truth!

    APK

    P.S.=> Downmod away - I'll just come RIGHT BACK OVER THE TOP OF "your kind's" SORRY LYING ASSES, every single time & post it again... apk

  18. Is THAT the "best YOOD got"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: I don't see how your bs is convincing myself or anyone else that this transcript I read is a lie http://www.antichristconspiracy.com/HTML%20Pages/Harold_Wallace_Rosenthal_Interview_1976.htm/ or that what is said here in this video is a lie also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=347to413eVU/

    * No, it seems ALL YOU CAN DO is "downmod hide" truth & troll me by UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous posts (what YOOD do!).

    "I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:9) - you prove it to St. John himself, myself, & anyone else reading here - thanks!

    APK

    P.S.=> Call me all the names yood wish & lie about me some more - anything you call me is BETTER than being "YOOD", lol... apk

  19. Re:Maybe they like to use Laptops on their flights by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Maybe they'll start buying houses there and ruin the housing market for them too."

    We can only hope for such good fortune! That and return the land that the Israeli's have stolen back to the Palestinians.

  20. Re: Zionists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why is it that Israel's existence requires justification and America's does not? At least the returning Jews had a historical connection to the land and didn't bring smallpox.

    You use the word 'Zionist' as if it there's something wrong with believing that an existing country has the right to exist. That's a pity.

  21. Re: Zionists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Israelis are by and large Eastern European and so the connection to the land does not exist.