New Delhi, April 28 -- Beijing's move to block Meta's $2 billion purchase of Manus, a Chinese AI startup, wasn't just about stopping a deal. It was about drawing a line on how countries protect, trade, and use technology in ways that reach far beyond business.

China's state planner ordered Meta and Manus to unwind the acquisition, citing concerns over losing critical AI talent and intellectual property to the United States. This decision comes at a time when Washington has tightened export controls to slow China's access to advanced chips. In response, Beijing is making clear that domestic breakthroughs in frontier technologies like AI will not be allowed to slip into foreign hands.

The timing is telling. With a high-stakes summit betwe...