By Paul McLeary on April 12, 2021 at 6:01 AM F-35 production line WASHINGTON: Faced with a massive spike in Chinese companies burrowing into the US defense manufacturing base, a new Pentagon effort has approved more than $311 million in potential partnerships between US venture capital firms and small tech firms since January in an attempt to keep Chinese money — and influence — out. In recent years, Chinese investment in small US tech and manufacturing firms has increased by a staggering 420% according to one analysis, an avalanche of money that could directly impact national security if that spigot were turned off in a time of crisis.