{
  "id": 18446322,
  "title": "China blocks US$5.4bil ABB robotics purchase by Japan’s SoftBank",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/china-blocks-us-5-4bil-abb-robotics-purchase-by-japans-softbank-18446322",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-06T04:27:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/11/06/china-blocks-us-5-4bil-abb-robotics-purchase-by-japan-s-softbank"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Japanese tech investment firm SoftBank announced on Friday that Chinese authorities had blocked its planned acquisition of ABB Robotics for US$5.4 billion. SoftBank had previously touted the deal as part of its strategy to expand into the rapidly growing AI-powered robotics sector. ABB Robotics specializes in high-precision industrial machines, such as robotic arms used in factory settings, and its parent company ABB Group reports China as its second-largest market, accounting for over 90% of its sales. However, Beijing has been tightening its control over AI and other sensitive technologies amid a diplomatic rift with Japan. Chinese regulators informed SoftBank on Wednesday that the acquisition of ABB's robotics business in China had been prohibited. SoftBank and ABB are reportedly working constructively on the transaction despite the regulatory block. The acquisition was initially announced in October 2025, and SoftBank, a significant investor in OpenAI, described it as part of its AI-focused business strategy. This is not the first time China has blocked an AI-related deal in recent months; in April, Beijing prevented Meta, the owner of Facebook, from acquiring Manus, a startup that develops AI agents for real-world tasks. Analysts have noted that these moves reflect China's increasing oversight of its AI sector, driven by fierce competition with the United States. Robotics and AI are becoming increasingly prevalent in everyday life in China, with robots now being used for various tasks such as traffic control, housekeeping, and factory floor operations. ABB Robotics has around 7,000 employees, and its 2024 revenues of US$2.3 billion accounted for approximately seven percent of ABB Group's total income. Earlier, ABB Group had planned to spin off its robotics business as a separately listed company.",
  "summary": "SoftBank said it had received notice from Chinese regulators on Wednesday 'that it had prohibited the acquisition of ABB's robotics business in China'.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}