TechCrunch China’s National Development and Reform Commission ordered Meta to unwind its $2 billion acquisition of Manus, an agentic AI firm founded by Chinese engineers and now based in Singapore. The regulator gave no public explanation, demanding the parties pull the deal and imposing exit bans on the startup’s founders. About 100 Manus staff have already moved into Meta’s Singapore offices, and the block threatens Meta’s push into AI agents while raising fresh concerns in Washington about Chinese‑linked technology investments.
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