China kills Meta’s acquisition of Manus as US-China AI rivalry deepens

China has effectively blocked Meta’s planned acquisition of AI agent startup Manus.

The founders had shifted Manus’s structure and base to Singapore, but Chinese scrutiny still stalled the deal.

The move leaves Manus’s product roadmap uncertain and complicates Meta’s AI strategy.

It also underscores rising geopolitical pressure on cross-border AI deals and startup restructuring.

The case shows how Chinese regulatory intervention can reshape US tech companies’ AI ambitions.