# Acquihire

China Flexes Regulatory Muscle: Why the Meta-Manus Blockade Marks a New Era in AI Sovereignty

China's NDRC has blocked Meta's $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus, marking a landmark enforcement of foreign investment security laws. The move highlights Beijing's commitment to retaining critical AI intellectual property and talent within its borders, effectively ending a high-profile attempt by Meta to bypass regulatory hurdles via a Singapore-based restructuring.