🔍 Deal under scrutiny: China’s Ministry of Commerce is reviewing Meta’s >$2bn acquisition of Chinese AI agent startup Manus for potential violations of export and overseas investment rules.
🧠 Technology in focus: At the core is whether Manus’ know-how and staff relocation to Singapore should have required a Chinese export licence.
🌏 Rare US acquisition: The deal is one of the few cases in which a US tech group is buying a high-profile AI startup with Chinese roots, making it politically sensitive.
🧳 “Singapore-washing”: Manus moved its team and technology to Singapore in 2025, a common step for Chinese startups seeking to reduce geopolitical risk.
⚠️ Leverage for Beijing: The review could lead to conditions, delays or, in an extreme case, a block—echoing Beijing’s approach in the TikTok case.
Background
Although Manus’ agent software is not considered “core strategic technology,” Beijing fears the signal effect: startups could relocate to sidestep regulation. The deal may become a test case for how far China’s export controls will extend to code, talent and data going forward.
The China Survival Guide for Western Businesses
Entity setup, WeChat strategy, hiring your first local team. 12+ years on the ground in Shanghai.
