BEIJING – China has decided to block Meta Platforms’ US$2 billion (S$2.5 billion) acquisition of agentic AI start-up Manus, making a surprise move to unwind a controversial deal that’s drawn fire for the leakage of technology to the US. The National Development and Reform Commission ordered the deal’s cancellation in a brief statement on April 27. The decision was made in accordance with laws and regulations, the powerful state planner said in a one-line notice, without elaborating. Meta representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The decision is likely to send a chill through China’s burgeoning AI sector,…