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China blocks Meta deal for Manus after stopping founders leaving country in AI power struggle
International
Published on 28 April 2026
Beijing halted exits first, then reversed the $2B deal
China has ordered Meta to cancel its $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus, following actions that prevented the company’s founders from leaving the country. The move underscores how the US-China AI rivalry is shaping high-stakes tech deals, with regulators using immigration and compliance pressure to influence ownership and control of emerging AI talent.
- Beijing ordered Meta to cancel its $2B Manus acquisition
- The shutdown followed efforts that blocked Manus founders from leaving China
- The case highlights intensifying US China AI competition
- Regulatory control is influencing big tech M and A decisions
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This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
Office Chai