With Meta-Manus AI deal ‘difficult’ to undo, how will Beijing exert its authority?

SCMP Tech / 4/28/2026

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Analysts say Meta Platforms may find it “time-consuming,” “complex,” and “difficult” to unwind its acquisition of Chinese-origin AI startup Manus because the deal has progressed significantly.
Beijing’s Monday order to block the US$2 billion deal arrived about four months after the acquisition was announced, raising questions about how much leverage the parties still have.
The report notes that during the interim period, Manus provided Meta employees with unlimited-usage accounts for its “world’s first general AI agent,” deepening integration.
The case illustrates that US-China competition is expanding beyond chips and core model development into engineering and product design domains.
It frames the dispute as a test of how Beijing will exert authority when international AI deals have already moved from announcement to active collaboration.

It could be “time-consuming”, “complex” and “difficult” for Meta Platforms to unwind its acquisition of Manus, an artificial intelligence start-up that originated in China, given how far the deal has gone, according to analysts. Beijing’s order on Monday blocking the US$2 billion deal came roughly four months after the acquisition was announced. During that time, Manus – developer of what it described as the world’s first general AI agent – provided Meta employees with unlimited-usage accounts,...

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