China to Accelerate Development Of Humanoid Robots For Future Battlefield Use

China is accelerating research into the military use of humanoid robots, with its defence institutions studying how the machines could support troops, conduct reconnaissance and eventually participate in combat operations. A Reuters review of more than 100 Chinese military procurement notices, academic papers, patents, government records, official publications and defence-industry materials found that research into military applications has gathered momentum since 2025. The development comes as Chinese manufacturers dominate the rapidly expanding global humanoid robot market. BofA Global Research estimates that Chinese companies accounted for about 95 per cent of worldwide humanoid shipments in 2025, giving the country's military access to a large and growing commercial ecosystem. The potential military applications were highlighted after the World Humanoid Robot Games in China last month, where robots competed in running, boxing and other events. Two days after the Games ended, the People's Liberation Army Daily called for faster transfer of advanced technologies from laboratories into military training, including research into robotic 'combatants.' Chinese military institutions are testing humanoid technologies against battlefield requirements, acquiring systems and developing the perception, manipulation and training technologies needed to operate them. There is no evidence that China has deployed armed humanoid robots with operational military units. Experts say current systems remain expensive, energy-intensive and unreliable in unpredictable environments. Chinese military researchers have nevertheless begun developing scenarios for humanoid robots in urban combat. An August 2025 paper by researchers at the National University of Defense Technology described a hypothetical assault force involving six 'combat robots,' including humanoids, robot dogs and unmanned vehicles. The machines would operate alongside troops to clear buildings floor by floor and room by room. Researchers believe improvements in balance, perception and endurance could eventually make humanoids useful in buildings, tunnels and ship interiors, where their ability to walk, climb and manipulate objects could provide advantages. However, experts say wheeled, tracked and quadruped robots would generally remain cheaper and easier to deploy for simpler reconnaissance and logistics missions. Chinese military commentary has also discussed more ambitious roles. A July 2025 article in PLA Daily suggested humanoid robots could eventually move from supporting troops to taking on primary combat functions, including scenarios where a human operator verifies a target before a robot uses force. In December, the PLA Eastern Theater Command released an AI-generated video depicting military robots overwhelming Taiwan's defences in a hypothetical future conflict. China is not alone in examining military applications for humanoid robots. The United States Army has also launched efforts to develop 'militarized humanoid capabilities' for reconnaissance, security, obstacle clearing and hazardous operations. Chinese interest in military humanoids intensified in 2024, when the National University of Defense Technology and the Academy of Military Sciences hosted a defence technology forum that included discussions on military applications for humanoid systems. By 2025, military exercises and competitions were beginning to simulate battlefield missions. One competition involved robots infiltrating an area behind enemy lines, mapping terrain and locating targets. Procurement notices also showed growing interest in the technology. In May 2025, the PLA issued a tender for a humanoid robot, including installation and technical training. Another procurement notice sought an 'embodied humanoid robot intelligent perception and dexterous operation system.' In June 2026, the PLA budgeted about $300,000 for a system designed to collect and label camera, radar and movement data for humanoid robots, including information on terrain they could navigate. The focus suggests that military planners are looking beyond the physical machines themselves and towards the data, sensors and artificial intelligence systems needed to make them useful in real-world environments. China's defence industry is also beginning to develop military-oriented humanoids. Norinco, a state-owned defence conglomerate, has developed the Fuxi humanoid robot, which company materials describe as capable of sentry duties, reconnaissance, intelligent patrols and other dangerous missions. The system can be connected to a teleoperation platform, allowing a human operator to control the robot remotely. Remote operation could help overcome one of the biggest challenges facing autonomous humanoids: making reliable decisions in complex and unpredictable environments. Experts remain cautious about their immediate battlefield value. Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said humanoids were not currently practical battlefield systems but could become more viable within five to 10 years. Their eventual use in warfare would also raise significant legal and ethical questions. International humanitarian law requires combatants to distinguish civilians from military targets and prohibits attacks on wounded or surrendering fighters. The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that autonomous weapons could struggle to interpret signs of surrender because such decisions often depend on context and human intent. China's defence ministry said in March that AI-powered weapons should remain under human control, while the United States requires autonomous weapons to undergo legal review and realistic testing. For now, humanoid robots remain far from routine battlefield deployment. But Chinese military research indicates that planners are already preparing for a future in which increasingly capable machines could operate alongside, and potentially ahead of, human soldiers. If technological breakthroughs, lower production costs and large-scale manufacturing overcome current limitations, Chinese researchers believe humanoid robots could eventually become a significant part of future military operations.