Trojan Horse Tech: Select Committee Sounds Alarm on CCP Robots Inside U.S. Institutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, every member of the House Select Committee on China – Republicans and Democrats alike – signed a bipartisan letter warning of a growing national security threat posed by Chinese robotics firm Unitree. In an unprecedented display of total bipartisan unity—something almost unheard of in today’s Congress—every member of the Select Committee joined this call to action.

“The fact that PLA-connected robots are operating in U.S. prisons and even within Army operations should be a wake-up call," said Chairman John Moolenaar. "These machines are not just tools—they are potential surveillance devices backed by the Chinese Communist Party. Every single member of the Committee—Democrats and Republicans—signed this letter because we all see the risk: Beijing is quietly embedding itself in our critical systems. We must act now to ban and blacklist Unitree before it’s too late.”

“The Select Committee is gravely concerned about the national security threat posed by PRC robotics companies with ties to the People’s Liberation Army,” said Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi. “These robots are dual-use technologies being weaponized by our adversary and the PLA is actively exploiting these systems to enhance its military capabilities, blurring the lines between civilian and military use. We cannot allow our critical infrastructure or defense supply chains to be infiltrated by foreign companies aligned with hostile regimes whose goals are fundamentally opposed to our national interests and values.”

Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou-based technology firm, is deeply linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) through military-civil fusion programs, PLA exercises, and CCP-backed investments. Despite these connections, Unitree’s quadrupedal robots—equipped with cameras, sensors, and embedded software—have already been deployed within sensitive U.S. institutions, including state correctional systems and military settings.

What the Committee Is Calling For

1. Designation of Unitree under Section 1260H of the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act, identifying it as a Chinese military company.
2. Addition to the Department of Commerce’s Entity List to restrict exports and partnerships.
3. Inclusion on the FCC’s Covered List to block use in U.S. telecom infrastructure.

Why This Matters to Americans

• CCP Weaponizing Tech: Unitree’s robots are “dual-use”—marketed as civilian but used in Chinese military drills and police ops. They collect video, audio, and other data that could be sent to China.
• Already Operating in the U.S.: These robots are active in U.S. prisons and public safety departments right now, despite being tied to China’s military.
• Built-In Backdoors: Unitree devices include remote-access features (via “CloudSail”), PRC-subsidized software, and storage linked to Chinese servers—posing serious surveillance and cybersecurity threats.
• National Security at Risk: This isn’t hypothetical—China could use these platforms to spy, gather intelligence, or disrupt operations inside the U.S. 

Read the full letter HERE.