4.27 Big News: The national team has stepped in. US tech giant Meta's $2 billion acquisition of Chinese AI startup Manus has been put on hold, as the National Development and Reform Commission has ordered the parties involved to cancel the deal.
Manus had actually pivoted to Singapore back in July 2025: domestic social media accounts were wiped clean, the official website showed it was unavailable in mainland China, and they subsequently disbanded their domestic business team, relocating everything to Singapore. However, regulators still believe that its core technology, team origins, and early R&D are all tied to China.
From a national perspective, this is understandable. AI Agents aren’t just regular apps; if Meta fully acquires Manus, they’re not just taking over a company, but also its technological roadmap, engineering experience, execution-level AI capabilities, and next-gen entry points.
But from an entrepreneur's viewpoint, this is quite frustrating. Why did they move headquarters to Singapore? Why did they gain traction only after relocating there? To put it bluntly, it’s often not that they don't love their homeland, but that this land doesn’t necessarily nurture towering trees. Capital isn't patient enough, the market is tough to monetize, major players are quick to encroach, and regulatory boundaries are vague. Now that they want to break free, you say: not a chance.
It’s true that core technology shouldn’t be hijacked. But if you really want to retain technology, talent, and projects, you can't just rely on last-minute interventions. You also need to provide a nurturing environment, capital, market opportunities, and appropriate regulatory loosening.
Chairman of Manus comments: "Going global with products, being acquired by Meta for $2 billion, becoming the first global giant acquisition case for Chinese AI Agents, thus stepping into the realm of global tech giants and a life-changing journey... Alas, a ton of bitterness is nothing compared to my struggles."
In plain terms: you want the horse to run, but you won’t provide grass; you’d rather let it rot in the pot than serve it up to others.
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