In an announcement published on Mofcom's website, the anti-monopoly regulator prohibited the transaction, expressing concern about the proposed merger's impact on existing small-scale juice manufacturers.
Commentators, however, question whether this tells the full story.
"The decision is not expressly protectionist but there will be certain suspicions that non-competitive factors played a role, particularly considering the media speculation and lobbying that have surrounded the case from the beginning," said Kirstie Nicholson at Lovells in Shanghai.
Martyn Huckerby of Mallesons Stephen Jaques agrees....