Beijing brands Meta's Manus acquisition as "conspiratorial" and bars founders from leaving China

China’s National Security Commission condemned Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus as a threat to the country’s tech base.

The deal is now under multi-agency review involving export controls, investment rules, and antitrust scrutiny.

Manus had already moved its headquarters from Beijing to Singapore before the December transaction.

Its co-founders were later summoned by the NDRC and reportedly barred from traveling abroad, while some Chinese investors may seek to unwind the deal.