April 27 (UPI) — The Chinese government is moving to block Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of Manus, a Singaporean artificial intelligence company originally founded in China.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission said Monday that its decision to prevent foreign investment in Manus complies with laws and regulations.
The commission has instructed Meta and Manus to withdraw the acquisition transaction.
In January, Chinese officials said an investigation was underway to establish whether Meta’s acquisition of Manus in December 2025 complied with laws and regulations regarding overseas investments.
Officials were also working to determine if the deal violated rules that require companies to obtain approval for the export of certain technologies.
Monday’s announcement may impact future partnerships between Chinese entrepreneurs and foreign companies.