China's Humanoid Robot Games: Advances, Limitations, and Geopolitical Stakes

At the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, a swift left hook and a front kick drew cheers. Yet, the match concluded not with a decisive blow, but an attempted roundhouse kick that wildly missed, sending the pint-sized kickboxer tumbling. Unlike human kickboxing, these competitors from China’s leading technological universities grappled with different challenges: maintaining balance, managing battery life, and their very purpose.

Held in the 12,000-seater National Speed Skating Oval, a 2022 Winter Olympics venue, the government-backed games commenced with the Chinese national anthem, setting a national tone. Spectators, like retired engineer Hong Yun, expressed fascination, finding the robot races “much more exciting than seeing real humans.” Beyond kickboxing, humanoids engaged in athletics, football, and dance. The challenges were evident; during a 1500-meter race, one robot’s head detached mid-course. “Keeping it balanced while in movement is our biggest challenge,” explained Wang Ziyi, a 19-year-old Beijing Union University student.

These highly visual, social-media-friendly events underscore a deeper geopolitical reality: the intensifying technological competition between the United States and China, particularly in artificial intelligence. Since humanoid dancing robots captivated audiences at the 2025 Spring Festival Gala – a celebration garnering nearly 17 billion online views – Beijing has vigorously promoted “embodied AI.” The sector was highlighted in this year’s government work report. While Washington’s chip export restrictions have allowed the US to maintain a lead in frontier AI research, Beijing is aggressively pursuing real-world applications like robotics.

The commitment is substantial. Cities like Beijing and Shanghai have established 10 billion yuan (approximately £1 billion) robotics industry funds. In January, the state-owned Bank of China announced plans for a staggering 1 trillion yuan in financial support for the AI industry over the next five years. Princeton’s Dr. Kyle Chan notes Beijing’s keenness to spotlight areas where China could become a global leader. Though US companies like Tesla and Boston Dynamics lead the market, Chinese firms such as UBTech and Unitree Robotics (the kickboxing robot supplier) are rapidly closing the gap. China’s supply chain advantages are significant, with Morgan Stanley estimating Chinese-based supply chains produce robots at a third of the cost of non-Chinese suppliers, making complete decoupling difficult.

Beyond generating positive publicity, China views humanoids as crucial to addressing its aging population and shrinking workforce. A recent article in People’s Daily, an official party newspaper, suggested robots could offer practical and emotional support for older people, envisioning “robot-assisted elderly care is not far away.” Humanoids are also envisioned as factory worker replacements, freeing the workforce for higher-tech retraining.

However, despite the considerable enthusiasm, a significant chasm remains between robots stumbling on a football pitch and reliably performing daily tasks. Safely interacting with vulnerable humans presents another monumental leap. As Dr. Chan points out, the home is likely one of the last environments where humanoid robots will become commonplace due to safety concerns, expressing skepticism about the broader “humanoid explosion.”

Beyond PR stunts, two formidable barriers to widespread utility are complex human-built environments and the need for highly dexterous hands. Unlike large language models, which train on vast digital datasets, real-world data for navigating crowded spaces or stairs remains scarce. While China’s real-world robot deployment aids data collection, it remains a significant bottleneck. University of Sheffield’s Dr. Jonathan Aitken concurs, noting current AI is “nowhere near seeing humanoids operating out of uncontrolled environments.” Furthermore, while impressive in motion, mundane tasks like handling a kitchen knife or folding laundry demand fine motor skills. A human hand boasts around 27 independent movements; Tesla’s advanced Optimus humanoid currently manages 22.

Yet, China has defied expectations with accelerated technological progress before. Just a decade ago, the country exported fewer than 375,000 cars annually; today, it is the world’s largest automobile supplier, shipping nearly 6 million vehicles each year, prompting the European Union to increase tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles. In China, both political and public will firmly back the humanoid robotics ambition. As Zhan Guangtao, who brought her two daughters, articulated: “Exposing them to hi-tech will broaden their horizons.”