US lawmakers move to ban Chinese robots over espionage, security fears
Synopsis
Washington's tech cold war with Beijing just extended to robots. A new bipartisan bill would let the US ban Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots outright, naming Unitree and citing backdoor espionage risks. It echoes earlier crackdowns on Huawei and DJI — and signals that the next frontier of US-China decoupling is autonomous machines in American homes and factories.
Key Takeaways
US lawmakers introduced the GUARD Act on 4 June to restrict Chinese-made humanoid and quadruped robots .
The bill was filed by Jennifer McClellan , John Moolenaar and Jay Obernolte .
Flagged robots would be added to the FCC's Covered List , barring US use.
Products not reviewed within one year would automatically face restrictions.
Unitree was named, with lawmakers alleging state subsidies and military links.
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers on 4 June introduced legislation in Washington that could ban Chinese-made humanoid and quadruped robots from the American market, marking the latest escalation in Washington's widening campaign against Chinese technologies flagged as national security risks.
What the GUARD Act proposes
The Guarding the US Against Adversarial Robotics Dominance (GUARD) Act would require federal agencies to review humanoid and quadruped robots manufactured in China and other US-designated foreign adversaries. Robots judged to pose unacceptable risks would be barred from entry, and any products not reviewed within a year would automatically face restrictions.
Products identified as threats would be added to the Federal Communications Commission's Covered List, effectively prohibiting their use across the United States. The bill directs national security agencies to assess whether foreign-made robotic systems could be exploited for espionage, data harvesting or other activities harmful to American interests.
Who is behind the bill
The measure was introduced by Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, and Congressman Jay Obernolte.
“As China, Russia, Iran and North Korea devise new ways to undermine our safety and well-being in our own homes, we must remain vigilant to potential national security risks that harm, manipulate or exploit our most vulnerable, especially children,” McClellan said, adding that communications equipment posing a threat must be kept out of households, offices and shared spaces.
The China robotics concern
Moolenaar argued that Chinese robotics firms pose both security and economic challenges. “Robots made by China are a threat to national security, critical infrastructure, and American workers. They contain backdoors that can be hijacked for espionage, and our legislation will stop these threats now before China can embed them throughout America,” he said.
He further alleged that firms such as Unitree benefit from generous state subsidies and maintain links to China's military-industrial ecosystem. “Fueled by generous state subsidies, Unitree and other Chinese robotics companies are cheating against American robot makers, flooding the market with artificially cheap products, possibly bankrupting our companies, and leaving us dependent on China,” Moolenaar said, adding that these firms 'use their revenue to develop weaponised robots.'
Why it matters
Obernolte said the legislation is a 'commonsense step' to protect national security and ensure the United States leads in trusted robotics. Supporters compared the proposal to earlier US curbs on Chinese telecommunications equipment and drone makers — notably Huawei, ZTE and DJI — arguing that autonomous robots capable of environmental sensing and data collection could open new attack surfaces if deployed at scale.
What happens next
The GUARD Act now heads for committee consideration, where its scope, enforcement timeline and the criteria for the Covered List are likely to be debated. If passed, it would tighten an already restrictive US technology regime against Chinese hardware ahead of the next wave of consumer and industrial robotics rollouts.
Point of View
Particularly in the humanoid segment, lags China on cost and scale, which means a ban could entrench dependence on a thin pipeline of Western suppliers. Expect Beijing to retaliate in kind, and expect the 'backdoor' framing to expand from telecom to anything that moves and senses.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GUARD Act introduced by US lawmakers?
The Guarding the US Against Adversarial Robotics Dominance (GUARD) Act is a bipartisan bill requiring federal review of humanoid and quadruped robots made in China and other adversary nations. Robots deemed security risks would be barred from the US market and added to the FCC's Covered List.
Why are US lawmakers targeting Chinese robots?
Lawmakers argue Chinese-made robots could be exploited for espionage, data collection and other activities harmful to US interests. Representative John Moolenaar alleged the devices contain backdoors and that firms like Unitree benefit from state subsidies and links to China's military-industrial ecosystem.
Which Chinese robotics company was named in the bill's debate?
Unitree was specifically named by Representative John Moolenaar, who accused it of flooding the US market with artificially cheap, state-subsidised products and maintaining ties to China's military.
How does the GUARD Act compare to past US actions on Chinese tech?
Supporters compared it to earlier US measures against Chinese telecom giants such as Huawei and ZTE, and drone maker DJI. Like those actions, the GUARD Act uses the FCC's Covered List mechanism to effectively prohibit deployment in the United States.
What happens if a Chinese robot is not reviewed within a year?
Under the proposed bill, any humanoid or quadruped robot from a designated adversary nation that is not reviewed within one year would automatically face restrictions in the US market.
