China displayed a gun-wielding robot dog during its largest military drill with Cambodia. raising safety concerns.
The event highlights US-China intensifying race to dominate robots and smart machines, which defense officials say could be important in future wars.
Over 2,000 troops and 12 ships participated in the 15-day Golden Dragon joint drills, which included the gun-toting quadruped, per Axios. Agence France-Presse said that Unitree, a Chinese firm fthat sells robots online for thousands of euros, did not fire its weapon during the demonstration.
US officials worry about China's growing influence in Cambodia, where Beijing has spent billions. With China's armed robot dog deployment uncertain, unmanned technologies are likely to play a growing role alongside troops. These devices are expected to carry supplies, scout danger, decoy, and more.
China's Growing Influence in Cambodia Beyond Robot Dogs
Cambodia and China held military exercises this month amid fears over Beijing's expanding influence in Southeast Asia.
According to AP News, the during yearly land and maritime drills' first phase at a Cambodian military base 90 kilometers (55 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh, Commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Gen. Vong Pisen expressed gratitude to China for providing new equipment and upgrading military facilities, including the Ream Naval Base.
The US and other experts worry that China's construction of a new dock at Ream might turn it into a Chinese naval station in the strategically crucial Gulf of Thailand. Two Chinese warships had remained at the port for almost five months before the Golden Dragon drills began, raising these fears.
Cambodia claims its constitution forbids foreign military presence. The Defense Ministry said the two Chinese corvettes were "testing" the dock and participating in the Golden Dragon exercises, which would involve marine operations near Ream in the second phase.
Before the Cambodia drills, military authorities evaluated troops, armored battle vehicles, artillery, and other equipment.
Since 2016, Cambodia has held monthly Golden Dragon drills after canceling the Angkor Sentinel with the US. China is Cambodia's closest Southeast Asian ally and biggest donor, influencing the country's economy.
This picture taken on September 22, 2023 shows the DEEP Robotics' X30 robot dog at the 2022 Asian Games host city Hangzhou, in China's eastern Zhejiang province. PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images
US Developing Robot Dogs Too
The Pentagon is considering arming remote-controlled robot dogs with modern guns to "explore the realm of the possible" in future battles. The US Army expressed interest in similar technologies last year.
Ghost Robotics, a US military contractor, has shown a quadrupedal robot dog with a long-range gun, according to Futurism.
Boston Dynamics, the company behind the Spot Mini robot dog, insists on not weaponizing their robots. The corporation has stated that arming robots violates its TOS. The firm emphasized that it "will not weaponize" its robots and software "that enables advanced robotics."
"We will not support others in doing so," Boston Dynamics noted in a letter.
