# Last December, US tech giant Meta shelled out US$2 billion to buy Chinese-founded, Singapore-based artificial intelligence developer Manus.

*business · news · 2026-05-04 · CNA*

## Key points

- China blocked Meta's US$2 billion acquisition of AI firm Manus on national security grounds.
- Beijing has tightened technology deal oversight with new rules and executive travel bans since March 2025.
- The Manus-Meta deal's collapse signals origin-washing is increasingly ineffective in bypassing geopolitical scrutiny.
- US-China cross-border tech deals dropped 73% between 2021 and 2024, reflecting heightened mutual restrictions.
- Companies may now move innovations overseas from inception, potentially undermining China’s control over technology.

**Companies:** Meta, Manus
**Countries:** Singapore, China, United States

[Read the full story on CNA](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/manus-meta-china-block-sale-tech-ai-6098391)

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