China Orders Meta To Unwind Manus Acquisition
China's NDRC prohibited foreign investment in Manus and ordered parties to withdraw the roughly $2 billion to $3 billion acquisition, citing national security concerns.
Al JazeeraChina seeks to block US tech giant Meta from AI acquisition
ARS TechnicaChina kills Meta’s acquisition of Manus as US-China AI rivalry deepens
Epoch TimesChinese Regime Blocks Meta’s Planned Acquisition of AI Startup Manus
Breitbart NewsChina Blocks Meta's $2 Billion Acquisition of AI Startup Manus
Overview
China's National Development and Reform Commission prohibited foreign investment in Manus and formally asked Meta to unwind the acquisition on April 27.
The decision follows months of scrutiny after Meta announced in December 2025 that it had agreed to acquire Manus, which relocated its operations to Singapore in 2025.
Meta said the transaction complied fully with applicable law and anticipated an appropriate resolution, while a White House spokesperson said the administration would defend America's technology sector against undue foreign interference.
The acquisition was reported at roughly $2 billion to $3 billion.
Chinese regulators had begun reviewing the deal in January 2026, and authorities have required the parties to withdraw, leaving legal and practical questions about how a completed transaction would be unwound.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as part of broader US–China tech tensions by foregrounding regulatory language and geopolitical context. Editorial choices emphasize government scrutiny (terms like 'prohibited' and 'strict laws'), prioritize official reactions (Meta, White House, China's embassy), and use quote placement to amplify national-security angles, while quotes remain source content.