On the final day of his official visit to China in late February 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made his way to Hangzhou, a city that has become synonymous with China’s digital and robotics ambitions. The destination was the headquarters of Unitree Robotics, a manufacturer that has carved out a prominent position in the field of humanoid robots. There, Merz was treated to a demonstration that included humanoid robots boxing, dancing, and performing martial arts — a spectacle that drew applause and smiles from the Chancellor, according to pool reports and official accounts of the visit.
The visit was not a casual photo opportunity. It came at the end of a multi-day trip that had already taken Merz to Beijing, where he visited the Mercedes-Benz Group’s operations and took a short ride in an autonomous vehicle. That stop was itself a signal of the automotive ties that have long bound the two economies. But the Hangzhou leg was different in character. It was a deliberate engagement with the vanguard of China’s robotics sector, and it placed Unitree’s CEO, Wang Xingxing, directly in the Chancellor’s orbit. Wang later took to social media to say that meeting Merz was an honour and that he looked forward to collaborating with global enterprises for mutual success.
The demonstration at Unitree was not the only tech stop on Merz’s itinerary in Hangzhou. According to reports, the Chancellor also tried on a pair of AI glasses made by Rokid, a Hangzhou-based company. The firm later said that Merz expressed strong interest in and appreciation for the product. Between the humanoid robots and the augmented reality eyewear, the message was clear: Germany’s leadership is paying close attention to the hardware and software coming out of China’s tech hubs.
But the visit was not all smiles and applause. Merz did not shy away from the friction points in the bilateral relationship. He openly acknowledged what he called “difficult issues” between China and Germany, specifically pointing to competition — noting that China has high capacities, some of which are now posing a problem for Europe because they far exceed market demand. That candid assessment, delivered during a visit meant to strengthen ties, underscored the delicate balancing act that European leaders face when engaging with China’s industrial machine.
The trip followed in the footsteps of Merz’s predecessor, Olaf Scholz, who had also visited China during his time in office. But the focus on robotics and AI was notably sharper this time around, reflecting the growing importance of these sectors in the bilateral relationship. The visit was widely covered by international media, with Reuters pool photographer Andres Martinez Casares capturing the Chancellor watching the robot boxing match — an image that quickly circulated around the world.
Why it matters for European robot service
For those of us tracking the robotics industry from a European perspective, the image of a German Chancellor applauding a platoon of humanoid robots in Hangzhou is more than a diplomatic anecdote. It is a snapshot of a shifting landscape in which China has moved from being a manufacturing partner to a technology leader in its own right — and in which European leaders are being forced to reckon with that reality in real time.
Unitree is not a niche player. The company specialises in the development, production, and worldwide distribution of high-quality humanoid robots. That is not a small claim. Humanoid robots — machines designed to operate in environments built for humans — are widely considered one of the next major frontiers in automation. They have potential applications in logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and even domestic settings. If the technology matures as its proponents expect, humanoid robots could reshape how work is done across the global economy.
For European buyers and operators of robot services, the implications are significant. The fact that a German Chancellor is personally engaging with a Chinese humanoid robot manufacturer signals that these machines are no longer a distant possibility. They are here, they are being demonstrated at the highest levels of government, and they are being produced by companies that are actively seeking global partnerships.
At the same time, Merz’s own words about competition should give European stakeholders pause. When he said that China’s capacities “far exceed market demand,” he was not just making a diplomatic point. He was describing a structural reality: China has built enormous production capacity in advanced technologies, and that capacity is now pressing against the limits of what the market can absorb. For European companies, this means both opportunity and threat. Opportunity, because Chinese manufacturers like Unitree are openly interested in collaborating with global enterprises. Threat, because the sheer scale of Chinese production could undercut European players who are trying to build their own robotics ecosystems.
The visit also highlights a broader trend: the growing interpenetration of the German and Chinese economies in the technology sector. Germany has long been China’s most important trading partner in Europe, and the automotive industry has been the anchor of that relationship. But the Hangzhou visit suggests that the relationship is expanding into new territory. When a German Chancellor tries on AI glasses and watches humanoid robots box, he is signalling that the future of the bilateral relationship will include robotics, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies.
For European robot service providers, this raises a set of strategic questions. Should they view Chinese humanoid robot manufacturers as partners, competitors, or both? How should they position themselves in a market where Chinese companies have both scale and ambition? And what role should European governments play in shaping the competitive landscape?
There are no easy answers, and the source material does not provide them. What is clear is that the old assumptions — that China would remain a low-cost manufacturing base while Europe provided the high-end technology — no longer hold. The visit to Unitree was a demonstration of Chinese technological prowess, and it was received as such by a German Chancellor who is known for his directness.
What buyers and operators should know
For buyers and operators of robot services in Europe, the Merz visit offers several takeaways, though it is important to distinguish between what is known and what is not disclosed.
First, the known facts: Unitree is a Chinese manufacturer that develops, produces, and distributes humanoid robots worldwide. The company demonstrated dancing, boxing, and martial arts capabilities during the Chancellor’s visit. The CEO, Wang Xingxing, has expressed interest in collaborating with global enterprises. These are the facts as reported in the source material.
What is not disclosed in the source material is any specific information about Unitree’s commercial terms, service levels, or technical specifications. The source material does not mention pricing, delivery times, warranty conditions, or any other commercial details. It does not mention whether Unitree has established service networks in Europe, nor does it provide any information about spare parts availability, maintenance contracts, or customer support infrastructure. Buyers and operators should therefore treat the visit as a signal of intent rather than a commercial offer.
That said, the visit does provide useful context for procurement decisions. The fact that a German Chancellor was shown a demonstration that included a self-driving Mercedes-Benz alongside the humanoid robots suggests that the integration of robotics with existing industrial ecosystems is a topic of interest at the highest levels. For European operators, this could mean that humanoid robots are being positioned not as standalone curiosities but as components of broader automated systems.
Another point to consider is the geopolitical dimension. The source material makes clear that tensions exist between China and Germany, particularly around competition and market demand. Merz openly addressed these issues during his visit. For European buyers, this means that any commercial relationship with a Chinese robotics manufacturer will take place against a backdrop of political and economic uncertainty. Trade policies, export controls, and market access rules could change, and these changes could affect the availability and cost of Chinese robotics products in Europe.
The source material also notes that the visit was viewed as a step forward in China-Germany relations, despite the evident tensions. This suggests that both sides are interested in maintaining and deepening their economic ties, even as they acknowledge the difficulties. For buyers and operators, this could mean that the door is open for more collaboration between European and Chinese companies in the robotics sector. But it also means that such collaboration will require careful navigation of the political landscape.
One more point worth flagging: the source material does not provide any information about the performance characteristics of the humanoid robots demonstrated at Unitree. We do not know their payload capacity, battery life, walking speed, or any other technical metrics. We do not know whether they are commercially available or still in development. We do not know their price points or target markets. All of this information would be essential for any serious procurement decision, and none of it is available in the source material.
What we do know is that the demonstration was impressive enough to draw applause from a visiting head of government, and that the company’s CEO is publicly committed to international collaboration. Those are positive signals, but they are not substitutes for due diligence.
For European operators, the practical advice is straightforward: treat the Merz visit as a starting point for your own research. If you are considering humanoid robots for your operations, look beyond the headlines. Ask for technical specifications. Ask about service and support in Europe. Ask about the company’s track record with international customers. And above all, ask about the political and regulatory risks that could affect your supply chain.
The robotics industry is still young, and humanoid robots are at an even earlier stage of development. The fact that a German Chancellor took the time to watch them box and dance is a sign of how far the technology has come. But it is also a reminder of how much remains unknown.
Sources
https://www.cfr.org/articles/china-in-europe-february-2026
Published by Vigla Media OÜ (Estonia).