Chinese state TV’s 2026 Lunar New Year Gala opened Feb. 16 with a futuristic flourish: humanoid robots somersaulted, danced, and struck martial arts poses under bright lights during the Year of the Horse celebration. To many viewers, the message was unmistakable. China’s humanoid robots had arrived, and might even be outpacing global competitors.
State media and officials quickly amplified that narrative. A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, Lin Jian, said in a post on X that Chinese humanoid robots had once again stunned audiences after debuting the previous year. Domestic headlines hailed another technological triumph.
