China Explores Humanoid Robots for Combat

China's defense establishment is accelerating research into the military applications of humanoid robots and planning for their eventual deployment in wartime, according to a review of more than 100 Chinese military procurement notices, academic studies, patents, official publications, government records, and defense company materials. This push involves testing robots against battlefield requirements, acquiring technologies for training, and studying how they might operate alongside human troops. The World Humanoid Robot Games, held in Beijing in August 2026, showcased significant advances in robotic speed and mobility, with some robots demonstrating capabilities like sprinting and parkour. Following the games, the People's Liberation Army's official newspaper, the PLA Daily, called for researchers to speed up the transfer of advanced robotic technologies from laboratories to military training grounds for combatants. Chinese manufacturers accounted for approximately 95% of global humanoid robot shipments in 2025, providing the People's Liberation Army access to a rapidly expanding domestic industry.