China Holds Six of the Ten Most Innovative Humanoid-Robot Startups, Patent Study Finds

Chinese companies account for six of the world's ten most innovative humanoid-robot startups, according to a new study of global patent data cited by the South China Morning Post, evidence that Beijing is widening its lead in a field it treats as central to future manufacturing and defense. The report frames the gap as growing even as Washington moves to restrict imports and the flow of advanced components, the paper reported.

The finding comes alongside a rare area of cooperation between the two powers. A senior United States defense official said military communication with China's People's Liberation Army was stronger than it had been in years and described it as an exception within a broadly competitive relationship, according to the South China Morning Post. The combination reflects the current state of relations, with managed dialogue on security while each side works to build a technology base independent of the other.

Export controls intended to slow China have instead accelerated its effort to develop domestic robotics, chips and computing hardware, deepening a split of global technology into competing systems with separate supply chains and standards.