China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) today announced that, in accordance with laws and regulations, it has issued a decision prohibiting foreign investment in the acquisition of the general-purpose AI agent project Manus. It also requires the relevant transaction parties to immediately withdraw and cancel all related acquisition activities.
This decision marks a key step in China’s regulation of foreign mergers and acquisitions in the technology sector, reflecting its firm determination to safeguard national technological sovereignty and data security.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission
The Manus project was launched in March 2025 by the Chinese team Monica.im (Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology) and is described by its developer as a general-purpose AI agent.
Its core capability lies in autonomously completing complex computer-based tasks within a virtual machine, covering scenarios such as market research, code review, and event planning, while also supporting end-to-end output delivery.
