China Blocks Meta's Acquisition of Manus

China's National Development and Reform Commission blocked Meta's acquisition deal for Manus and demanded that the parties involved withdraw the deal.

• The target is agentic AI startup Manus, and the deal size was reported at over $2 billion.
• The authorities only stated that the action was taken in accordance with laws and regulations, without offering further explanation.
• The move comes as the US and China continue their standoff over AI technology leakage and overseas investment regulation.
• Manus is known for its general-purpose AI agent, reportedly capable of performing tasks such as market research, coding, and data analysis.
• The collapse of the deal could also be a setback for Meta's plans to strengthen its AI agent competitiveness.