- media@moneyinfocus.news
China has blocked Meta’s planned $2 billion acquisition of Chinese-founded artificial intelligence startup Manus, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing technology dispute between Beijing and Washington.
According to Xinhua News Agency, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a decision through its foreign investment review authority to halt the transaction. Regulators also ordered all parties involved to unwind the deal.
The move underscores intensifying scrutiny over cross-border investments in advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, which has become a central battleground in U.S.-China strategic competition.
Manus, launched in March last year, developed an AI agent designed to autonomously execute complex tasks, including generating research reports, preparing presentations, and building websites. The product was highlighted by Chinese state media as a breakthrough innovation, following the release of AI models from firms such as DeepSeek, which had previously disrupted global technology markets.
Meta announced the acquisition in late December as part of its broader push into advanced AI capabilities. As of now, the company has not publicly commented on the Chinese government’s decision.
The development reflects growing geopolitical friction over control of next-generation technologies, with governments increasingly intervening in deals involving artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and data infrastructure.
