# China blocks tech giant Meta from an acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus.

*genai · news · 2026-04-27 · Al Jazeera*

## Key points

- China's NDRC has officially blocked Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus, citing regulatory grounds.
- Manus, with Chinese roots but now Singapore-based, develops general-purpose AI agents for complex tasks.
- Manus relocated to Singapore and shut its China offices after a $75m fundraising round in May 2025.
- China's intervention targets a rare case where a US firm acquires an AI company with past Chinese links.
- Manus's move to Singapore aimed to bypass US and Chinese restrictions on AI investment and IP transfer.

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

[Read the full story on Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/27/china-blocks-us-tech-giant-meta-from-acquiring-ai-startup-manus)

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