Overview
- The Ministry of Commerce said it is assessing whether Meta’s purchase of Manus complied with Chinese export-control and technology-transfer rules in coordination with other regulators.
- Manus was launched in China and moved to Singapore in mid-2025, and Meta acquired the startup in late December in a deal reported to exceed $2 billion.
- Meta plans to integrate Manus’ technology while running the agent service separately and bringing over top leadership, and it says Manus will end services in China with no continuing Chinese ownership.
- Analysts say the probe serves as a warning against “Singapore washing” and reflects a push to keep Chinese AI talent and intellectual property from being acquired overseas.
- Experts describe the case as a potential CFIUS-style test, with Manus’ agent possibly subject to export controls and outcomes ranging from conditional approval to penalties on an uncertain timeline.