How China block of AI deal could stop ‘Singapore-washing’

Tokyo: When is a Chinese AI startup not a Chinese AI startup? When it’s based in Singapore, or elsewhere, to distance itself legally and politically from Beijing.

The practice known as “Singapore-washing” is under scrutiny after China blocked a major US acquisition on national security grounds.

China’s top economic planning body said Monday it prohibited the deal between Facebook owner Meta and the Chinese-developed, Singapore-based artificial intelligence agent tool Manus.