# The blocked acquisition of Chinese artificial intelligence firm Manus by U.S. giant Meta is another moment when the fantasy of seamless globalization smashes into the hard wall of national security politics.

*business · news · 2026-05-06 · Foreign Policy*

## Key points

- China's NDRC retroactively blocked Meta's $2 billion acquisition of AI agent Manus and ordered unwinding.
- Manus is the first publicly disclosed AI sector foreign acquisition blocked since NDRC's rule took effect.
- Beijing's crackdown targets 'Singapore-washing' and the VIE structure as national security threats.
- Both Chinese and U.S. regulators are converging on using security tools for technology competition.
- The NDRC rule is now seen as an unpredictable, all-encompassing threat to Chinese tech sector exits.

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

[Read the full story on Foreign Policy](https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/05/06/china-ai-singapore-manus-meta-us-competition/)

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