China is focusing on the development of humanoid robots for use in battlefield combat as military research progresses rapidly

China is rapidly advancing its military research on humanoid robots, investigating their roles on the battlefield in conjunction with troops and their potential use during wartime.

Last month at the World Humanoid Robot Games in China, robots showcased their rapidly advancing capabilities as they jumped, boxed, danced, and raced, all while entertaining spectators with their occasional stumbles.

Two days following the conclusion of the competition, the official newspaper of the People’s Liberation Army reached a contrasting conclusion from the technological showcase, calling on researchers to accelerate the transfer of advanced innovations from laboratories to military training grounds for robotic “combatants.”

China's defense establishment is hastening research into military uses for humanoid robots and gearing up for their possible deployment in future conflicts, as revealed by a Reuters review of over 100 Chinese military procurement notices, academic studies, patents, government records, official publications, and defense-company materials.

The previously unreported records reveal that Chinese military institutions are evaluating humanoid robots in relation to battlefield needs, aiming to develop robots and associated technologies for training purposes and to explore how these machines could function alongside soldiers.

The research accelerated in 2025 and 2026, concentrating on aspects such as robotic perception, manipulation, and training data.

According to BofA Global Research, Chinese manufacturers represented approximately 95 percent of global humanoid robot shipments in 2025. The country's stronghold in the commercial market provides the People's Liberation Army with access to a swiftly growing domestic robotics industry as it explores military applications.

China’s research illustrates a wider international movement toward autonomous military systems as armed forces pursue technologies that can undertake perilous or challenging tasks.

The Russia-Ukraine war has heightened interest in semi-autonomous drones that utilize artificial intelligence for navigation and targeting, significantly changing the landscape of reconnaissance and attacks. Additionally, ground robots have been employed to transport supplies and evacuate casualties.

Reuters has previously reported on the Chinese military's efforts to analyze technological lessons arising from the war, which has turned into Europe’s most lethal conflict since World War II.

Dennis Hong, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, stated that the capacity to deploy robots in hazardous environments is one of the most compelling reasons for their development.

“Venturing into areas that are unsuitable for human presence is one of the most persuasive arguments for the development of robots,” Hong stated. “If sacrificing a robot can prevent the loss of a human life, then the robot may be considered expendable.”

China’s defense ministry and the National University of Defense Technology, the primary research institution of the People’s Liberation Army, did not reply to inquiries regarding the military uses of humanoid robots.