China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI platform Manus

China said on Monday that Meta's acquisition of AI platform Manus has been blocked.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a statement that it had decided to "prohibit foreign investment in the acquisition of the Manus project in accordance with laws and regulations," and required the parties involved to "withdraw the acquisition transaction."

In January, the Financial Times reported that Beijing was reviewing the proposed sale of Manus to Meta.

Bloomberg also reported last week that China was seeking to bar tech firms, including AI startups, from accepting US investment without government approval.

Meta announced the $2 billion acquisition in December.

Manus, founded in China before relocating to Singapore, unveiled its first general AI agent in early 2025, capable of performing complex tasks such as data analysis, coding, and market research.