The Chinese authorities have decided examine thoroughly the Meta's purchase of ManusThis multi-billion dollar deal has once again placed technological tensions between China and the United States at the center of global debate. Although the agreement was announced at the end of December, the process is far from complete and could become complicated if Beijing believes its technology export rules have been violated.
The transaction, encrypted around 2.000 millionThis affects one of the most talked-about AI platforms of the past year and comes at a time of increasingly stringent regulations for technology exchanges between major powers. For Meta, the deal is a strategic advantage in its race to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities, while for China it represents a test of its own capabilities. to what extent can it allow highly skilled algorithms and talent to leave the country?.
What exactly is China reviewing?
According to various reports from media outlets such as Financial Times and international agencies, the China's Ministry of Commerce has opened a preliminary review of the operation. The focus is not so much on the price of the deal as on the path Manus has followed: first the moving their team and technology from China to Singapore and subsequently, its sale to Meta.
Chinese officials are seeking to clarify whether that prior transfer and subsequent acquisition should have been subject to a export license under the country's legislation. In other words, Beijing is trying to determine whether some of the technology developed while Manus was still operating in Chinese territory falls under the categories of software or algorithms subject to strategic control for national security reasons.
In this initial phase, the review is being kept low-key and without official announcements, but Sources familiar with the process suggest that the exam could escalate A formal investigation could be launched if regulators detect any signs of non-compliance. If it reaches that point, China would have several tools at its disposal, from demanding additional conditions to using the licensing requirement to exert pressure and, in a worst-case scenario, attempting to derail the agreement.
The situation is reminiscent of other instances where Beijing has used its export regulations to gain leverage. It has previously employed similar mechanisms when the United States raised [the issue]. force the sale of TikTok during Donald Trump's first term, an operation that was also blocked in regulatory matters.
Technology exports and fears of startup exodus
Beyond the specific case, the Chinese review reflects a fundamental concern: the gradual exodus of high-potential Chinese startups to other technology hubswith Singapore as a star destination. In recent years, companies with global ambitions—such as Manus itself or e-commerce giants—have opted to relocate part of their teams or their legal headquarters out of China to reduce their exposure to geopolitical tensions and regulatory restrictions.
This phenomenon has been colloquially dubbed “Singapore's image laundering“,” alluding to the strategy of establishing headquarters in the city-state to project a more neutral image to Western investors and foreign regulators. However, in most cases, development centers and the bulk of the staff remain based in mainland China, keeping these companies under Beijing’s radar.
In the case of Manus, various reports indicate that the movement was deeper: The core of the team moved to Singapore in 2025This reduces the Chinese authorities' ability to directly intervene in their day-to-day operations. Even so, the key issue isn't so much where their engineers are based today, but rather what part of the technology was conceived when the company was still fully established in China.
Experts quoted in Chinese media have stressed that Manus's departure cannot be understood without the US restrictions on investment in AI developed in ChinaThis regulatory environment, which complicates access for North American capital to Chinese artificial intelligence projects, would have pushed the company to relocate in order to continue growing with international financing and, finally, open the door to its sale to Meta.
From the Chinese side, academics and analysts point out that trying to abruptly "break ties" with the country of origin does not guarantee being exempt from either Chinese or American regulations. As some experts point out, thinking that simply moving is enough to circumvent the regulatory frameworks of both blocs is a simplistic view. at a time when technology has become a matter of national security.
Manus, the AI agent who has seduced Meta
The interest generated by the operation is not only related to geopolitics. Manus has made a name for itself in the competitive world of artificial intelligence Thanks to its general-purpose assistant, an "agent" designed to perform tasks autonomously with fewer explicit commands than the best-known chatbots.
The company rose to fame after launching, in a limited and invitation-only phase, a preliminary version of its AI agent It was presented as capable of making decisions, chaining actions, and completing complex processes with minimal user interaction. On social networks like X (formerly Twitter), its behavior attracted attention when compared to benchmark models such as ChatGPT or DeepSeek, which it supposedly outperformed in some autonomous scenarios.
This approach aligns with Meta's strategy, which has long sought to accelerate its deployment of artificial intelligence tools in widely used products such as Facebook, Instagram or WhatsAppWith the acquisition of Manus, Meta not only incorporates talent and intellectual property, but also technology that can strengthen its commitment to AI agents integrated into its platforms, from personal assistants to systems capable of managing workflows for companies.
Manus herself has indicated that, despite the acquisition, will continue operating from Singapore and will continue to offer its services via subscription through its website and app. This continuity allows Meta to leverage the user base and market position the startup had already built, while reserving the option to gradually integrate the technology into its own services.
An operation amidst a global technological fracture
Meta's acquisition of Manus is also notable for its rarity: It is not common for a large US technology company to buy a Chinese firm. in a context of trade war and cross-restrictions that has been dragging on since 2018. In that sense, the agreement has been interpreted as a barometer of how far technological collaboration between the two powers can go in the midst of a partial “disconnection” of their digital ecosystems.
Analysts in the field of international relations have described the case as a new chapter in the technological divide between China and the United StatesFor some experts, the fact that Manus ended up in Meta's hands demonstrates that, today, the US environment remains more attractive for attracting capital, talent, and global visibility in the AI sector, especially for startups that aspire to scale quickly.
In Europe, these types of movements are watched closely. Although the EU is not directly involved in the operation, European authorities are working on their own regulatory framework for artificial intelligenceWith ongoing debates about how to handle the export of advanced algorithms and access to sensitive data, China's decision regarding the Manus case could serve as an indirect reference point for European lawmakers seeking a balance between security, competitiveness, and openness to foreign investment.
Beijing's potential intervention could also affect how major technology platforms design their global acquisition roadmaps. Every technology transfer originating in China comes under intense scrutinyWestern companies might be more cautious about buying startups whose core innovation originated in the Asian giant.
Open scenarios for the Meta-Manus agreement
As of today, the process remains at an intermediate stage. It is not guaranteed that the review will result in a formal case fileHowever, it cannot be ruled out that it will ultimately influence the final outcome of the agreement. Among the possible outcomes, sources consulted by various media outlets describe a range from the validation of the deal with virtually no changes to the imposition of requirements or even pressure to reconsider certain terms.
In similar cases, China has resorted to measures such as limitations in the transfer of certain technological componentsThis includes demands to keep part of the research and development within the country or, in more tense situations, a de facto blockade of sales deemed contrary to its strategic interests. However, there is a relevant nuance in the Manus dossier: several informants indicate that its AI assistant is not considered, at least for the moment, a “vital technology” for national security.
That detail could reduce the likelihood of a drastic intervention, although it does not eliminate the possibility that Beijing will use the case as a warning to other startups considering following a similar path. The mere existence of this review already sends a clear messageChinese regulators are prepared to closely monitor the export of advanced AI capabilities developed under their jurisdiction, even when companies have already moved to other countries.
Meanwhile, Meta faces a somewhat uncertain scenario. Any additional demands from China—for example, restrictions on what part of the technology can be integrated into global products—could force them to adjust the way the company incorporates Manus' developments to its overall artificial intelligence strategy, with possible effects on the timing and scope of future functionalities for users.
The Manus case has thus become a very illustrative example of how, in the midst of the rise of artificial intelligence, Major corporate deals are no longer decided solely in the offices of executives and investors.but also in trade ministries, national security offices, and regulatory bodies across the globe. What China ultimately decides in this preliminary review will set the course not only for this specific purchase, but also for the climate in which future major AI deals between companies from different economic blocs will be negotiated.