China shows off its robot ‘dogs of war’ (Video)

A video of a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldier walking with a robot dog equipped with a machine gun has gone viral. The video is reportedly from military drills between China and Cambodia.

The video, shared on X (formerly Twitter), is captioned “Chinese PLA soldier walking with his armed robot dog.” It has rapidly garnered attention, amassing over 227,000 views and 1,300 likes.

The emergence of the video comes as China conducts military drills around Taiwan. Many analysts have interpreted the exercises as a test of the PLA’s ability to exert control over the self-ruled island.

Robot dogs are enhancing Chinese troops' capabilities in crucial combat scenarios during the ongoing Golden Dragon-2024 joint exercises with Cambodia. pic.twitter.com/zSPyaMS0bT

— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) May 26, 2024

The video has fueled speculation that robotic technology could be pivotal in any potential conflict over Taiwan. Opinions on the robot dog’s effectiveness, however, are divided.

Some skeptics have questioned whether the robot can maintain accuracy or remain upright after firing shots, given the added weight and recoil from the mounted gun.

Chinese PLA soldier walking with his armed robot dog. pic.twitter.com/KPsA2oL1eT

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 23, 2024