Meta’s Manus News is Getting Different Receptions in Washington and Beijing

Manus AI acquisition by Meta triggers divergent U.S. and China regulatory responses amid export control scrutiny.
Matilda
Meta’s Manus News is Getting Different Receptions in Washington and Beijing
Manus AI Deal Sparks U.S.-China Regulatory Clash Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of AI assistant startup Manus is drawing sharply contrasting reactions across the Pacific—welcomed in Washington, questioned in Beijing. As U.S. regulators appear satisfied with the deal’s compliance, Chinese authorities are now probing whether Manus violated technology export laws when it moved operations from Beijing to Singapore. The reversal of scrutiny highlights how geopolitical tensions are reshaping global tech transactions in 2026. Credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP / Getty Images Why the U.S. Is Onboard—For Now Initially, the deal raised eyebrows in Washington. When venture firm Benchmark led a funding round for Manus earlier in 2025, Senator John Cornyn publicly criticized the investment on X, warning it could funnel American capital into sensitive Chinese AI development. The Treasury Department launched inquiries under new rules limiting U.S. investments in Chinese tech with dual-use potential. Y…