China's government flexes muscles with Uber, DreamWorks probes

By Adam Jourdan and Michelle Price SHANGHAI/HONG KONG (Reuters) - The Chinese government said on Friday it was investigating two high-profile takeover proposals involving U.S. companies, the latest sign of its growing influence on whether deals are approved - even those appearing to have little impact in China. The Commerce Ministry said at a briefing on Friday it was probing ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing's planned acquisition of U.S. rival Uber Technologies Inc's China unit and Comcast Corp's purchase of movie studio DreamWorks Animation. The scrutiny, announced the day before world leaders descend on China's eastern city of Hangzhou for a meeting of the Group of 20, underscores the ministry's increasingly tough stance on companies that strike deals without seeking its approval.