China Blocks Meta's $2 Billion Acquisition of AI Firm Manus — First Chinese Block of Foreign AI Investment

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Security Review Working Mechanism blocked Meta's attempted $2 billion acquisition of Chinese AI firm Manus on April 27, 2026, marking the first public Chinese government decision blocking foreign investment in the AI sector. The NDRC classified frontier AI technology as a national-security-critical asset, barring foreign acquisition of domestically developed AI capabilities. Manus, founded in 2025, had gained attention for its autonomous AI agent capabilities. The decision signals Beijing's intent to retain domestic ownership of cutting-edge AI development and mirrors the US government's own restrictions on Chinese technology investment. The USCC China Bulletin described the decision as 'underlines Beijing's classification of frontier AI as national-security-critical technology,' creating a symmetric AI investment barrier in both the US and Chinese markets.