A $2 billion deal between Meta and rising AI company Manus was done and then suddenly, China stepped in and blocked it.

The move stunned the tech world. Manus, a fast-growing AI startup with roots in China but based in Singapore, had been gaining attention for its powerful AI agent tools. Meta - the company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp - saw it as a strategic bet in the race to dominate artificial intelligence.

But Beijing saw something else. Chinese regulators intervened, reportedly framing the deal as a threat to national security and a potential loss of critical technology.

In this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks with Rui Ma, founder of Tech Buzz China, and Wendy Chang from the Mercator Institute for China Studies to unpack what Manus is, why Meta wanted it, why China blocked the deal and what this tells us about the intensifying US-China AI rivalry.

This episode was recorded on 4 May.

Asia Specific brings you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the Asia Pacific region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

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Can China reverse a billion-dollar tech deal?

Asia Specific

Can China reverse a billion-dollar tech deal?