•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
China’s authorities on April 28 officially blocked Meta’s plan to acquire Manus, an artificial intelligence startup, in a move described as firm and potentially setting a precedent for cross-border technology deals. Manus provides an AI agent capable of performing tasks such as programming and market research.
According to DW, in a brief one-line notice, the National Development and Reform Commission said it would “prohibit foreign investment into Manus in accordance with the law, and require the parties involved to withdraw from the acquisition.” The decision means Meta must abandon a deal valued at more than $2 billion (about €1.7 billion), despite Meta previously announcing completion of the necessary steps and asserting compliance with the regulations.
Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said in an official response that the deal “fully complied with current regulations” and expressed hope for “an appropriate solution” after China’s review. However, observers said the likelihood of reversing the decision is very low given the statement from Beijing.
Manus drew rapid attention in the global tech community after last year’s announcement of what it described as the world’s first general AI agent. The system is said to be capable of performing multiple complex tasks, including programming, market research, financial planning and budgeting.
Unlike many AI startups, Manus did not develop its own large language model (LLM). Instead, it built an “agent layer” that operates on existing Western AI models, allowing the company to use advanced AI platforms without heavy investment in model-training infrastructure.
Attention has also focused on Manus’s legal structure and cross-border operating strategy. In July last year, the company closed all offices in China and moved its headquarters to Singapore, registering the parent company there. The move was seen as an attempt to navigate US restrictions on investing in AI companies with Chinese connections, as well as China’s rules limiting the transfer of intellectual property and capital outflows.
When Meta announced its plan to acquire Manus in December, it emphasized that there would be “no ownership by Chinese interests” after the transaction, a step it said would reduce legal and political risk amid a tense tech climate between the world’s two largest economies.
Beijing’s latest decision, however, indicates regulators still view Manus as a strategically sensitive technology asset despite the restructuring.
The block comes as US-China AI rivalry intensifies. China is seeking to develop domestic AI capabilities not only to catch up but to surpass the US in a foundational technology seen as essential to future growth and national power.
In this environment, acquiring a US firm with Chinese-linked origins is viewed as politically sensitive and potentially tied to national security. Lian Jye Su, head of analytics at technology research firm Omdia, said China’s decision signals a willingness to use strong measures to protect core technological resources, including AI talent and capability.
More than one deal is at stake in the interpretation of the decision, which is being framed as a warning to global technology companies seeking to invest in or acquire deep-tech assets with Chinese ties. Experts said it could set a new precedent for cross-border technology transactions.
The decision is also seen as reflecting a broader trend toward fragmentation in the global technology ecosystem, as countries tighten control over core technologies and limit foreign investment. In such conditions, firms are expected to adapt not only their products and innovation strategies, but also their approach to evolving policy and geopolitical constraints—especially in sensitive markets like China.
In the AI race, control of data, talent and capital flows is increasingly treated as a national-security issue, meaning companies like Meta may need to proceed more cautiously with expansion plans involving sensitive technology assets.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…
