China’s humanoid robots move from dance to combat

At the recent World Humanoid Robot Games in China, advanced robots showcased their capabilities by jumping, boxing, and dancing. Some robots even outpaced the world's fastest human, Usain Bolt, in a 100-meter race. The event garnered attention for both the technological advancements and the humorous mistakes made by the robots. In the days following the competition, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily newspaper called for researchers to expedite the transfer of cutting-edge technologies from labs to military training grounds for humanoid combatants.

According to a Reuters assessment of over 100 Chinese military procurement notices, academic studies, patents, official publications, government records, and defense company materials, China's defense establishment is accelerating research into military applications of humanoids. Military institutions are testing these robots against battlefield requirements, seeking to acquire robots and technologies to train them, and studying their potential integration with troops.

China's manufacturing sector controls approximately 95% of the global humanoid robot market in 2025, providing the PLA with easy access to an expanding industry while simultaneously developing its own military applications. This military focus on humanoid robots comes amid rapid advancements in military technologies globally. For instance, during the Russia-Ukraine war, semi-autonomous drones equipped with AI for navigation and targeting have revolutionized reconnaissance and attack capabilities. Chinese military observers have studied these developments and applied them to their own research.

The PLA and the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT), the PLA's leading research institution, have not responded to requests for comment on humanoid robots' military applications. However, one study conducted by researchers at the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) in Xi'an envisions six combat robots - comprising humanoids, robot dogs, or unmanned vehicles - divided between two assault teams.

These robots would clear enemy-occupied buildings, floor by floor and room by room, according to a paper published in August 2025.

Chinese military commentary envisions expanding roles for humanoids, with a July 2025 article in PLA Daily suggesting that humanoid missions could eventually evolve from supporting combat to becoming primary combat forces. The PLA Daily article also discusses the authorization of robots to fire on living targets verified by human operators.