U.S. Legislation to Restrict Chinese Humanoid Robots from Military Procurement
Miles Bennett
The U.S. House passed the National Defense Authorization Act, barring the Pentagon from procuring humanoid robots linked to China and other adversaries — and ordering a review of whether to extend restrictions to the commercial market.
What exactly does this ban cover?
Section 163 of the NDAA prohibits the Department of Defense from purchasing, leasing, or operating humanoid robot systems tied to China, Russia, Iran, and other designated adversaries.
The provision originated from the bipartisan GUARD Act, introduced by Rep. John Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on China.
This means → the military supply chain is now closed to Chinese humanoid robots, but the ban applies only to defense procurement — civilian markets remain untouched for now.
Is the commercial market next?
The full GUARD Act proposed adding Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots ("robot dogs") to the FCC's "Covered List" — which would strip their wireless-communication licenses and effectively block commercial sales in the U.S.
The version that passed did not include this commercial clause, but it requires the Pentagon to assess whether broader, nationwide restrictions on Chinese robots are warranted.
In plain terms = the commercial door is still open, but the Pentagon's review process has the lock and key ready to go.
Why was Unitree singled out?
Moolenaar specifically called out Unitree Robotics during the legislative push, arguing that heavy state subsidies enable it to undercut American competitors.
The data backs the concern: Chinese companies account for roughly 80% of global humanoid-robot shipments in 2025, per Counterpoint Research. Unitree shipped over 5,500 units; AgiBot shipped 5,168.
By contrast, leading U.S. players — Figure AI, Agility Robotics, and Tesla — each shipped around 150 units. The gap is more than 30×.
Why are humanoid robots harder to regulate than chips?
Humanoid robots bundle AI models, sensors, wireless communications, data collection, and physical autonomy into one system — making security review far more complex than for any single technology.
The U.S. has already imposed controls on Chinese telecom equipment, advanced semiconductors, and AI-related technology. Robots are the latest link in that control chain.
This reflects a shift in U.S. tech-control logic — from restricting individual components to restricting integrated systems. Whether the ban expands from military procurement to the commercial market is the key variable for the next phase.
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