China blocks Meta’s AI expansion with Manus acquisition ban

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has officially blocked Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of the AI startup Manus. Despite Manus being based in Singapore, the NDRC ruled that the deal violates Chinese technology export and foreign investment laws due to the company's Chinese origins. This unprecedented late-stage intervention follows months of tension, during which Manus’s co-founders were reportedly barred from leaving China. The decision marks a significant "red line" for Beijing, signaling that relocating a startup abroad does not place it beyond the reach of state oversight, especially when involving "truly autonomous" AI agents.

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