2015 – China designates robotics as a key sector in its national upgrade plan, spurring rapid growth that later yields more than 150 active humanoid‑robot firms and fuels a drive for productivity gains in an aging society[1].

2021 – The government launches a five‑year blueprint offering subsidies, tax breaks and low‑interest loans to accelerate domestic robotics, aiming for long‑term self‑sufficiency despite continued reliance on state support[1].

2024 – China records 9.54 million births against 10.93 million deaths, shrinking the population to 1.408 billion for the third consecutive year and leaving the total fertility rate near 1.2, far below replacement level[2].

2025 – Beijing issues a mandate to establish a national humanoid ecosystem, prompting Chinese firms to dominate the Humanoids Summit and prompting a surge in venture capital, with roughly 20 companies raising at least $100 million each[3].

2025 – A Shenzhen‑based robotics firm signs a $37 million contract to deploy Unitree R1 humanoids at border crossings near Vietnam, where the $5,566 robots will guide travelers, haul boxes and swap batteries, illustrating the commercial push for low‑cost humanoids[2].

Oct 2025 – Booster Robotics unveils a kid‑size humanoid priced from 29,900 yuan, expanding the consumer market beyond industrial use; Cheng Hao says, “future robots could be workout partners, home tutors and more.”[1].

Nov 2025 – Elon Musk tells a U.S.–Saudi investment forum that “in an AI‑rich future only 10–20 percent of people will need a job, with most work handled by robots,” framing widespread automation as compatible with universal high income[2].

Dec 5 2025 – China announces a 13 % value‑added tax on condoms and other contraceptives, ending a three‑decade exemption and aiming to curb birth rates, with the tax slated to take effect on Jan 1 2026[2].

Dec 12 2025 – The Humanoids Summit in Mountain View draws 2,000 attendees from Disney, Google and dozens of startups; Disney reveals its Olaf robot will roam Hong Kong and Paris parks early next year, marking a high‑profile public deployment of a humanoid[3].

Jan 1 2026 – The 13 % condom tax comes into force, raising the cost of contraception as part of China’s broader strategy to address its declining population[2].

Early 2026 – Disney deploys its Olaf humanoid in Hong Kong Disneyland and Paris Disney parks, testing human‑like robots in public venues and signaling the entertainment sector’s entry into household‑robot markets[3].

Feb 16 2026 – Unitree’s fully autonomous G1 robots perform kung‑fu martial arts on China’s Spring Festival gala, reaching an audience of over half‑billion viewers and showcasing domestic humanoid capabilities on a national stage[4].

Feb 19 2026 – Unitree announces a target to ship up to 20,000 humanoid robots in 2026, nearly four times its 2025 volume, and cites China’s 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026‑2030) that positions robotics as a pillar for breakthroughs in embodied AI and 6G[4].

Early 2026 – At India’s AI Impact Summit, officials expose a Unitree Go2 “robo‑dog” as a Chinese import after it is misrepresented as a domestic design, prompting a public apology and highlighting geopolitical sensitivities around Chinese robotics exports[4].