Manus co-founders Xiao Hong and Ji Yichao have been placed under exit restrictions in China following questioning related to Meta's acquisition bid. (AP)
When U.S. technology giant Meta announced its $2 billion acquisition of Chinese artificial intelligence startup Manus, Beijing swiftly intervened. The deal would have integrated what some observers dubbed "China's DeepSeek" directly into Meta's expanding portfolio.
Manus co-founders Xiao Hong(肖弘) and Ji Yichao(季逸超) were summoned by China's National Development and Reform Commission this month. Subsequently placed under strict exit bans, both executives remain free to move within China but cannot leave.
Meanwhile, Beijing-based private equity firm Zhiyuzhishan Investment drew widespread financial attention by announcing unconventional hiring practices for core roles. The firm is actively recruiting candidates as young as 18 who possess only a high school diploma.
The only stringent requirement for these young applicants is demonstrating exceptional proficiency with advanced artificial intelligence tools. These simultaneous developments highlight Beijing's aggressive strategy to block top AI talent from leaving while casting a wide recruitment net.
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Meta's Massive Deal Triggers Regulatory Scrutiny
Xiao graduated from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2015 before successfully founding Nightingale Technology. His younger co-founder, Ji, drew early national attention at 18 by developing the Mammoth browser and appearing on Forbes China's cover.
The two entrepreneurs co-founded Manus in 2022 with backing successfully arranged through Zhen Fund's Xu Xiaoping(徐小平). Their innovative company focuses exclusively on general-purpose AI agent technology designed to autonomously complete complex, multi-step digital workflows.
After launching its flagship product in March 2025, Manus was widely celebrated as a massive breakthrough in China's AI sector. The startup's annualized recurring revenue rapidly surpassed $125 million within a remarkably short operational period.
Meta announced its acquisition of Manus, which had already relocated its headquarters to Singapore, in December of last year. The high-profile deal carried a reported valuation of approximately two to three billion.
In March, Xiao and Ji returned to mainland China after being officially summoned by the National Development and Reform Commission. Following those intensive meetings, regulators explicitly informed them they could not leave pending a comprehensive review.
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The commission's investigation reportedly focuses on whether Chinese-registered entities violated foreign direct investment rules or technology export controls. China's Ministry of Commerce is currently co-managing this highly sensitive transaction review alongside the NDRC.
A Meta spokesperson maintained that the acquisition complies with all applicable international laws, while Manus actively seeks legal assistance. Meanwhile, the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party issued a stark warning regarding the deal.
The committee asserted that no truly private technology companies exist in China. They warned that the Chinese government maintains overwhelming influence through intense regulatory reviews, opaque ownership structures, and direct state intervention.
A Beijing-based executive developing AI public opinion software described Beijing's aggressive move as an unusual instance of leveraging individuals. He noted the central regulatory concern involves the potential transfer of advanced AI agent capabilities.
Once deeply integrated into Meta's global systems, such sophisticated technology could rapidly accelerate American advancements in general-purpose AI. Observers speculate the regulatory summons essentially serves as a mechanism to detain the founders indefinitely.
（Related：Taiwan Condemns Chinese Sanctions Against Japanese Lawmaker Following Visit｜Latest）
Private Equity Firm Recruits High School Talent
In stark contrast, Zhiyuzhishan Investment recently moved to expand its local talent pipeline through highly unconventional corporate hiring. The firm published a standing recruitment notice opening core financial positions to candidates born in 2008 or later.
Removing traditional university degree requirements, the firm evaluates teenage applicants primarily on their documented experience using advanced AI tools. Initial applicant résumés are systematically screened by artificial intelligence rather than human resource professionals.
General Manager He Li(何理) explained that the initiative was specifically designed to identify exceptional young talent from elite high schools. He emphasized that AI-era technical capabilities now matter significantly more than traditional academic credentials.
New hires receive a generous annual AI tools budget exceeding $6,900 to maximize their operational efficiency. While an earlier announcement listing the minimum age as 16 drew harsh criticism, the firm ultimately revised it to 18.
Industry observers note that AI model development cycles are rapidly accelerating across the global technology sector. Consequently, recent graduates from elite universities are increasingly viewed as insufficient to meet surging corporate demand.
（Related：Taiwan Condemns Chinese Sanctions Against Japanese Lawmaker Following Visit｜Latest）
Manus AI co-founder and Chief Scientist Ji Yichao. (Screenshot / Official Manus Self-Introduction Video)
Firms desperately seek a younger generation possessing an intuitive, native familiarity with sophisticated models like Claude and DeepSeek. Multiple financial institutions have already begun recruiting secondary school students for highly complex algorithm positions.
Strategic Pressures And Implications For Taiwan
Though these two major developments appear contradictory, they reflect Beijing's consistent and highly aggressive strategic policy priorities. The Manus case clearly illustrates China's intense efforts to rigidly control its existing pool of advanced AI technology.
Even after Manus relocated its corporate headquarters to Singapore, Chinese authorities treated the founding team as critical national assets. The strict exit ban signals that next-generation productivity infrastructure cannot be transferred to American firms.
Conversely, Zhiyuzhishan's recruitment drive reflects a desperate parallel effort to rapidly expand the domestic Chinese talent base. Lowering entry thresholds allows local firms to secure brilliant minds before they enter the broader international market.
Analysts state this dual approach reflects China's deep anxieties about maintaining technological self-sufficiency under crushing geopolitical pressure. Beijing is constructing massive barriers against technology exports while aggressively accumulating high-skilled domestic talent.
The dramatic Manus case perfectly illustrates how global AI competition has extended far beyond basic hardware manufacturing. The geopolitical battle now centers entirely on the seamless integration of exceptional human expertise with autonomous systems.
Taiwan already possesses world-class semiconductor talent and truly unmatched hardware manufacturing infrastructure. Effectively leveraging the coming AI agent wave may determine whether the island can establish an independent strategic position amid intensifying superpower competition.
（Related：Taiwan Condemns Chinese Sanctions Against Japanese Lawmaker Following Visit｜Latest）
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