China’s dancing robots flag a broader march toward smart manufacturing leadership

China showcased advanced dancing humanoid robots at the Spring Festival Gala to highlight progress in robotics and AI, underscoring Beijing’s push to scale production and pivot from low-cost assembly to smart manufacturing. Experts say the performance signals capability in synchronized motion but warn it doesn’t prove industrial robustness or real-world adaptability. The display fits into a broader state-led tech push, with China reporting hundreds of thousands of robotics firms and vast capital, and analysts predicting growing humanoid sales amid ongoing US-China tech competition. Prominent voices note the spectacle is as much about policy and propaganda as it is about industrial progress.