As tensions simmer between the US and China, it’s manifesting into bold displays where innovation doubles as a show of power.
Anduril Partners with NASCAR
In the US, the defense sector disruptor Anduril Industries has just been named the presenting sponsor of the first-ever Cup Series race on an active military base. The event, dubbed “Anduril 250: Race the Base,” will be held in June 2026 at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. It’ll double as a celebration of the Navy’s 250th anniversary.
The level of engagement with NASCAR is unprecedented for the defense sector.
“NASCAR has long been woven into the fabric of America. It’s a sport that connects with fans across generations and reflects the energy and determination that defines us, “Craig Stimmel, a senior vice president and chief commercial officer at NASCAR, said in a press release. “Anduril is an American company that’s pushing boundaries in defense technology, and they bring that same drive and forward-thinking mindset.”
In under a decade, California-based Anduril has established itself as a key player in the US defense sector alongside primes like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman. Launched by Oculus inventor Palmer Luckey in 2017, the startup builds autonomous systems like drones, fighter jets, surveillance towers, underwater robots, and counter-drone tech. Anduril describes itself as software-driven, with its Lattice OS acting as the backbone for its offerings.
Anduril Heads Toward IPO
The startup is upping its public profile as it heads toward an IPO, which Luckey says is inevitable and analysts predict could happen as early as next year.
Anduril recently announced raising $2.5 billion in series G funding led by Founders Fund, doubling its valuation to $30.5 billion. The company is involved with many high-profile military projects, including the US Army’s next-generation C2 command and control ecosystem for its 4th Infantry Division, the Air Force’s Fury unmanned jet fighter under the collaborative combat aircraft initiative (CCA), and the Army’s integrated visual augmentation system (IVAS) for which it’s developing cutting-edge smart goggles for soldiers with Meta.
The company is also delivering autonomous submarines for the US and Australian navies and constructing a massive manufacturing complex in Ohio called Arsenal-1, which will be the largest new American defense manufacturing plant in decades.
Anduril is taking a notably forward-leaning stance in Taiwan, where it’s opened a regional office, partnered with the island’s top defense research agency, and delivered AI-enabled loitering munitions designed to bolster its asymmetric defenses against China. It’s a clear public alignment with Taiwan’s military posture at a time when US China tensions remain elevated, and Beijing has openly warned foreign companies against aiding Taiwan’s defense.
Beijing’s Humanoid Games
Meanwhile in China, the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games officially kicked off in Beijing, billed as the first-ever international multi-sport event dedicated to humanoids.
During a vibrant opening ceremony held at the National Speed Skating Oval, China’s growing army of fake humans showcased a mix of artistic and athletic feats. According to Chinese state media, the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games will feature more than 500 humanoids from 127 brands, organized into 280 teams across 538 events, including soccer, running, boxing, gymnastics, dancing, and scenario-based challenges like hotel work and industrial automation. Many of the participating robots were self-developed by contestants.
Unitree H1 Runs Fast
Heading in the games, Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics shared a new teaser video showing its flagship full-sized robotic humanoid, the H1, running on a track at the Beijing venue. The exact speed isn’t disclosed, but consensus on social media places it around 15 km/h (9 mph), which would be a significant improvement over its 2024 then-world-record speed of nearly 12 km/h (7.3 mph).
During the opening-day spectacle, Unitree’s shorter kickboxing G1 humanoids entertained viewers fighting each other in the ring, which has become a familiar site in 2025.
Humanoid Performers
Beijing based Booster Robotics short humanoids were also featured prominently throughout the presentation, dancing with Chinese pop singer Liu Yuxin alongside robots from the Shenzhen robotics firm EngineAI. Booster Robotics is supplying its T1 robots for all 46 teams competing in humanoid robot soccer matches.
Another Chinese robotics leader, UBTECH Robotics, brought its robotic bipedal panda named YouYou, which demonstrated its Tai Chi abilities, followed by an all-robot rock band featuring humanoids playing keyboards, guitars, and drums.
The night also featured a runway segment during which robots dawn fashionable hats, and clothing alongside human models. One robot fell and became disabled during the showcase and had to be carried off stage by human assistants.
Other notable participants included DroidUp’s new general-purpose humanoid, the Walker 02, Noetix Robotics’ short humanoid, the N2, which came in second place during the world’s first humanoid robot halfmarathon back in April 2025, and Tiangong, the open-source robot developed by Beijing’s humanoid robotics innovation center, also known as X-Humanoid, that came in first place during that same race.
As apparent in broadcast footage, most of the robots’ actions throughout the kickoff were executed by remote control. Public tickets for the games reportedly range from $25 to $80.
The robot games followed another unprecedented display of humanoids during the World Robot Conference (WRC) in Beijing. The 10th annual conference featured more than 1,500 exhibits from Chinese and international robotics companies. More than 100 new robotic products reportedly debuted, nearly double the number from 2024.