CHARLESTON, SC—Twenty Chinese companies have put down $669 million in capital investment in South Carolina since 2000, according to that state's Department of Commerce. Together, they employ 3,253 workers.

WASHINGTON—In an ironic twist on offshored American jobs, some Chinese companies are pursuing “Made in USA” branding. Foreign brands and quality control are increasingly important for China’s affluent middle class, according to research.

NEW YORK—After decades of siphoning jobs from the United States, China is creating some. Chinese companies invested a record $14 billion in the United States last year, according to the Rhodium Group research firm. Collectively, they employ more than 70,000 Americans, up from virtually none a decade ago.