Despite blocking Meta’s Manus deal, China says ‘door open’ to foreign tech investment

China’s top economic planner denied pressuring domestic tech companies to turn down foreign investment amid rising concerns sparked by its recent blocking of Facebook owner Meta Platforms’ proposed buyout of Chinese-founded AI start-up Manus. “We have never required Chinese tech firms not to accept foreign investment,” Li Chao, spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said at a press conference on Friday. “We support Chinese firms to integrate into the global…