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As China bets on tech and innovation to drive its growth, it has placed its chips on several industrial sectors that are expected to play increasingly important roles in development and trade, which will bring fresh opportunities and challenges for stakeholders. SCMP’s China Future Tech is your go-to destination for the latest news, insights, and opinions on these select industries. Explore in-depth coverage of EVs, AI, semiconductors, aerospace, robotics and biomedicine sectors. Follow us to stay ahead in China's evolving competitive landscape.
Unitree robots dance on stage with singer Wang Leehom in Chengdu on December 18. Photo: Handout
Unitree Robotics

Editorial | Keep humans in mind as China races ahead in robotics

The focus must be on finding a future where human creativity and robotic efficiency can work together rather than compete.

DJI

Untapped global demand to drive next phase of robotic vacuum growth: Dreame

Robotics: Companies

Tech giants go prime time in the fight for China’s biggest audience

China stock market

UBTech’s US$237 million Fenglong deal tightens humanoid robot supply chain

Hong Kong-listed UBTech is buying a 43 per cent stake in Zhejiang Fenglong, as China’s robotics firms increasingly eye A-share acquisitions.

Chinese robotics firms are increasingly turning to acquisitions of mainland-listed companies to deepen industrial capabilities and secure access to domestic capital markets. Photo: Xinhua
Artificial intelligence

China’s AI toy boom: Huawei, JD.com, UBTech make big push into growing sector

China’s AI toy sector is forecast to expand to US$12 billion by 2030, up from US$3.5 billion this year.

Mainland China

China’s AgiBot aims for US$142 million revenue as humanoid robots gain momentum

Fast-growing robotics start-up expects to ship out 5,000 units in 2025 amid Beijing backing of the embodied intelligence industry.

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US-China trade war

Explainer | Will US-led ‘Pax Silica’ be a new dawn for the international AI supply chain?

Trump administration aims for deeper technology cooperation on new AI infrastructure with allies.

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Representatives of the “Pax Silica” signatories hold signed documents at a summit held in Washington on December 12. The initiative is America’s new vision for the international AI supply chain. Photo: Getty Images/AFP
China's military weapons

‘Saturation attacks’: drone swarms key for wartime victory, PLA Daily says

Concentrated UAV swarms seen to allow ‘optimal combat effectiveness with minimal battlefield expenditure’.

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China technology

Chinese team smashes robot rival as sparks fly at Abu Dhabi showdown

Deep-Sea Shark 3, built by China’s Fierce Roc team, kicks some bot at the Battle of the Robots at Abu Dhabi’s Games of the Future.

Science

Chinese researchers show how a word could let spies take control of a robot army

Demonstration at cybersecurity event highlights a flaw that could turn one robot into a ‘Trojan horse’ that can seize control of others.

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The team that identified the security flaw has urged manufacturers to establish their own security systems or seek external help. Photo: Xinhua
Unitree Robotics

Unitree G1 humanoids go viral with synchronised frontflip and Musk endorsement

China continues to dominate in humanoid robotics, and its lead over the US is accelerating, according to a recent Morgan Stanley report.

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Unitree robots dance on stage with singer Wang Leehom in Chengdu last Thursday. Photo: Handout
Japan

Japan announces US$6 billion support for home-grown AI development

A new company will be established by around 10 firms including SoftBank Group Corp, aiming to develop the country’s largest base AI model.

China technology

Building a humanoid robot without China? Then you better bring a bigger wallet

China has issued five times the number of patents related to humanoid robots than the US, says Morgan Stanley.

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China technology

China’s humanoid arms race: start-ups debut robots for stores, offices and factories

China’s latest venture-backed robotics contenders are unveiling ever more humanlike machines for reception desks, stores and factory floors.

Hobbs, Noetix Robotics. Photo: Handout
China economy

Opinion | Protection of vulnerable workers must be part of China’s AI strategy

Unemployment and underemployment are a double whammy that the Chinese leadership cannot ignore.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens

Video | Even China’s small factories are turning to robot workers

As large manufacturers turn to fully automatic “dark factories,” smaller operators are adding robots to supplement human labour.

Artificial intelligence

SenseTime pushes open-source AI model to provide a ‘smart brain’ for every robot

The Chinese AI pioneer also releases first robot dogs under new venture Ace Robotics.

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CATL

CATL marks trailblazing deployment of humanoid robots at scale in China plant

The initiative underscores the growing use of intelligent Chinese-made robots in the country’s manufacturing industry.

Built by start-up Spirit AI, the Xiaomo humanoid robot works on the assembly line of electric vehicle battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology. Photo: CATL
China technology

China cements global lead in smart vacuums as Picea acquires Roomba maker iRobot

Last month, Picea subsidiary Santrum bought about US$191 million of iRobot’s outstanding debt from the investment firm Carlyle Group.

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Artificial intelligence

Xiaomi launches open-source model to compete against DeepSeek, OpenAI systems

MiMo-V2-Flash ‘particularly excels in reasoning, coding and agentic scenarios’, Xiaomi says.

China technology

Video | Humanoid robots take centre stage at Shanghai summit

Competitions mainly focused on robotic applications in industrial assembly, home services, flower arranging, healthcare and elderly care, as well as restaurant services.

Competitions mainly focused on robotic applications in industrial assembly, home services, flower arranging, healthcare and elderly care, as well as restaurant services
Artificial intelligence

Chinese expert calls for world models and safety standards for embodied AI

Turing Award winner Andrew Yao says embodied AI needs reasoning, planning and control in one framework.

Andrew Yao speaks at the Global Developer Pioneers Summit in Shanghai. Photo: Handout
United States

China’s AI sector poised for growth despite US restrictions: venture capitalist

China’s AI sector gains confidence with DeepSeek’s emergence, but tech ecosystem needs to improve, GSR United Capital’s Zhou Qi says.

Science

How China’s US$150,000 robot start-up beat Elon Musk in 2 years

EngineAI robot delivers forceful Bruce Lee-style kicks, while Musk’s Optimus jogs a few steps and falls over while handing out water bottle.

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Made in China 2025

China’s Unitree teases platform allowing users to control robots via smartphones

Hangzhou robotics unicorn’s platform is designed to bring embodied intelligence into everyday life.

Unitree Robotics is preparing for a listing on Shanghai’s Nasdaq-style Star Market. Photo: Handout
Unitree Robotics

Why Japan’s robotic pioneers are ceding the humanoid stage to China and the US

Japan’s university system has long centred on engineering faculties led by manufacturing, resulting in a relative shortage of AI talent.

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Kawasaki’s humanoid robot Kaleido takes out the rubbish as crowds watch during the IREX show in Tokyo. Photo: Wency Chen
Japan

Fur real? In Japan, rise in bear attacks spurs demand for robot wolf, AI cameras

Authorities in a prefecture have also deployed drones that mimic dogs barking and spark fireworks to scare off bears.

China technology

China’s Deep Robotics raises US$70 million as sector draws more investors

Company founder Zhu Qiuguo says the new funding would be used for research and the recruitment of top robotics talent.

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