China: Humanoids Instead of Fireworks

On February 19, 2026, during the Lunar New Year celebrations, China showcased an army of humanoid robots live on national TV. The demonstration of machine coordination and motor skills became a symbol of technological sovereignty.

While the US leads in software and LLMs, China is betting on hardware. The maturity of servos and batteries suggests that mass production of "blue-collar" robots is a matter of the next few years. Behind the beautiful show lies aggressive preparation for the IPOs of local robotics startups.

Source: Reuters