# China has sought for years to exert influence over business deals beyond its home turf.

*business · news · 2026-04-27 · The Straits Times*

## Key points

- China ordered Meta to unwind a $2 billion acquisition of AI start-up Manus, despite the deal's completion.
- This is the first public use of China's 15-year-old foreign investment review mechanism in a tech M&A case.
- Beijing's main leverage over Meta is controlling Manus executives' cross-border movement, not the US company itself.
- China has instructed other key AI start-ups to reject US capital unless explicitly approved by regulators.
- Transferring Manus' technology to Meta is already complete, making the unwinding order largely symbolic.

**Companies:** Meta Platforms, Tencent Holdings, Manus, ZhenFund, HongShan
**Countries:** China, Singapore, United States

[Read the full story on The Straits Times](https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/beijing-sends-warning-on-de-chinaing-by-blocking-sale-of-singapore-based-ai-firm-manus-to-meta)

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