The Unthinkable Just Happened In China | China’s Economy | Global Tech Race

In today’s episode of China Update, presenter Tony Fiddis breaks down the reality behind China’s latest economic rebound and explores how Beijing is quietly securing global dominance in the humanoid robotics supply chain.

The Illusion of China's Economic Recovery
China’s GDP expanded 4.5% year-on-year in Q3, bringing Beijing’s annual growth target back in sight. However, beneath the headline growth lies an alarming structural imbalance. While factory output surged 5.5% on the back of overseas demand and the AI hardware boom, China’s domestic engine remains stalled:

Retail sales grew by only 1.1%
Real estate investment cratered 20.6% over the first nine months
Overall fixed-asset investment contracted 7.2%
Tony examines the warnings from Peking University finance professor Michael Pettis, explaining why China’s record trade surplus reflects severe domestic underconsumption rather than enduring economic health—and why relying on state subsidies and exports risks destabilising global trade.

China’s Grip on the Global Humanoid Robot Race
Chinese manufacturers accounted for 97% of worldwide humanoid robot shipments in the first half of 2026. With the market projected to surpass US$5 trillion by 2050, China is leveraging its manufacturing scale, permanent magnet production, and state backing to anchor the entire supply chain.