China’s Whole-of-Nation Push to Dominate Humanoid Robotics

Spread love

From state subsidies to EV–AI integration, Beijing’s coordinated robotics drive seeks global leadership by 2030

By S JHA

NEW DELHI, August 26, 2025 — China is mounting a whole-of-nation campaign to dominate humanoid robotics, deploying massive state subsidies, policy coordination, and industrial integration to outpace global rivals, according to an in-depth analysis by Sunny Cheung for the Jamestown Foundation.

Since the launch of Made in China 2025, robotics has been a central pillar of Beijing’s industrial strategy. Policy blueprints from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the 14th Five-Year Robotics Plan have targeted breakthroughs in sensors, actuators, cognitive AI, and motion control, while local governments fuel a “subsidy race” to foster regional champions.

Cheung notes that electric vehicle (EV) and technology giants — including BYD, XPeng, Geely, Huawei, and Xiaomi — are repurposing their R&D, supply chains, and manufacturing infrastructure to accelerate humanoid robot development. This industrial “migration” allows Chinese firms to cut costs, scale rapidly, and commercialize humanoid robotics at speed.

At the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Beijing unveiled the National and Local Co-Built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center, a major initiative backed by an $8.2 billion National AI Industry Fund. China’s humanoid robotics market, valued at RMB 2.8 billion ($380 million) in 2024, is projected to reach RMB 100 billion by 2030, with nearly 60% of global AI-driven robotics patents already filed by Chinese entities.

“China’s robotics surge reflects more than enthusiasm — it represents a structural shift,” Cheung argues. The analyst further stated that “Beijing is reshaping global supply chains and positioning itself to set the future standards for intelligent machines by converging EV technologies, AI platforms, and advanced manufacturing.”

The analysis warns that if successful, China’s model of vertical integration and state-backed financing could redefine global competition in robotics, posing strategic challenges for Western firms such as Tesla and Boston Dynamics.