China accuses the US of repression following the ban on humanoid robots.
Responding to Washington's decision to ban imports of overseas-made humanoid and quadrupedal robots, Beijing accused the US of "abusing the concept of national security to suppress." China asserted that it would take necessary measures to protect the rights of its businesses.
On July 29, China officially accused the US of trying to "suppress" its companies, after Washington issued an import ban on overseas-made humanoid and quadrupedal robots. In fact, the vast majority of humanoid robots sold in the US today are imported, particularly from China, a country that is rising to the top in this booming technology sector.
Previously, on July 28, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added "advanced robotic devices" to its list of banned items, citing national security concerns. In response to this move, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the country "resolutely opposes" it.
"China has always firmly opposed the U.S. abuse of the concept of national security to suppress Chinese companies," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing.
Mao Ning added that Beijing will take "necessary measures" to comprehensively protect the legitimate rights and interests of domestic companies.
"Protectionism cannot enhance America's competitiveness. It will only harm the interests of American companies and consumers," she emphasized.
In China, robots of all shapes and sizes have long been ubiquitous in daily life, from hotels and shopping malls to industrial factories.
Prior to the robotic devices, the FCC had already placed several types of drones and major Chinese technology companies such as Huawei and China Telecom on its control list. Now, this list is being expanded to include "mobile robots," machines that mimic human and animal locomotion by standing on two or four legs.
The FCC's decision was based on conclusions from a task force convened by the White House. The agency assessed that foreign-made robots could pose a "cybersecurity risk that threatens the security of critical infrastructure" as well as the "safety and security" of American citizens. Meanwhile, the majority of humanoid robots currently in the U.S. are primarily used in confined industrial applications, such as automotive manufacturing plants or warehouse systems.