China blocks Meta from acquiring AI startup Manus

HONG KONG: China on Monday blocked Meta’s acquisition of the artificial intelligence startup Manus, which has Chinese roots but is Singapore-based.

In a short statement, China’s National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s top planning agency, said it was prohibiting a foreign acquisition of Manus and had required all the parties to withdraw from the deal. It did not specifically name Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.