China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has made a decision to prohibit foreign investment in Chinese-origin Singapore AI startup Manus in accordance with laws and regulations, and has required the parties involved to withdraw the acquisition transaction. The NDRC did not explicitly name Meta, but it should be noted that this decision follows an investigation initiated by China’s commerce ministry in relation to Meta’s acquisition of Meta in December 2025. Manus co-founders were summoned by regulators and barred from leaving China, while the company has since relocated to Singapore allegedly without regulatory approval and circumventing US restrictions on Chinese AI firms. The NDRC’s actions signal a broader trend of China challenging cross-border transactions in sensitive technology sectors, emphasizing compliance with domestic laws and the importance of operational transparency for companies seeking foreign capital.
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