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America’s New Target: Chinese Robots

Day 1

アメリカの新たな標的―中国製ロボット

1 August 2026

Industrial robot on a factory floor suggesting US-China robotics rivalry

Robots may soon become the next major battlefield in the technology rivalry between the United States and China. Washington has moved to block certain newly imported robots and robotic systems over national security concerns. The restrictions could affect products ranging from humanoid and warehouse robots to some connected household machines. Chinese manufacturers are expected to be hit especially hard.

ロボットはまもなく、アメリカと中国の技術競争における次の主要な戦場になるかもしれません。ワシントンは国家安全保障上の懸念から、新たに輸入される特定のロボットとロボットシステムを阻止する動きに出ました。制限は、人型ロボットや倉庫ロボットから一部の接続された家庭用機器まで、幅広い製品に影響する可能性があります。中国の製造業者は特に大きな打撃を受けると予想されています。

Why would an industrial robot be considered a security risk? Modern robots are no longer simple machines that repeat one movement. Many contain cameras, microphones, sensors, artificial intelligence and internet connections. They can collect information about factories, warehouses, homes and the people working around them. U.S. officials worry that data gathered by foreign-made machines could be accessed or controlled from abroad. Similar concerns have already led the United States to restrict certain connected vehicle technologies linked to China and Russia.

なぜ産業用ロボットがセキュリティリスクと見なされるのでしょうか？現代のロボットは、一つの動きを繰り返すだけの単純な機械ではありません。多くはカメラ、マイク、センサー、人工知能、インターネット接続を含んでいます。工場、倉庫、家庭、そしてその周辺で働く人々についての情報を集められます。アメリカ当局は、外国製の機械が集めたデータが海外からアクセスされたり制御されたりすることを心配しています。同様の懸念がすでに、中国やロシアと結びついた特定のコネクテッド車両技術をアメリカが制限するきっかけとなりました。

The restrictions may protect American technology, but they could also create problems for American businesses. The United States imports many industrial robots and depends on overseas suppliers for numerous components. Even a robot assembled in America may contain foreign-made motors, sensors, chips or magnets. Replacing these parts with American alternatives would take time and could raise costs.

制限はアメリカの技術を守るかもしれませんが、アメリカ企業に問題を生む可能性もあります。アメリカは多くの産業用ロボットを輸入し、多数の部品を海外の供給業者に依存しています。アメリカで組み立てられたロボットでさえ、外国製のモーター、センサー、チップ、磁石を含んでいることがあります。これらの部品をアメリカ製の代替品に置き換えるには時間がかかり、コストを上げる可能性があります。

Chinese producers have gained an advantage partly because their government has supported strategic industries with subsidies, inexpensive financing and policies designed to expand manufacturing. Large domestic markets and intense competition have also helped Chinese companies reduce prices. As a result, American factories may find Chinese products difficult to replace without paying considerably more.

中国の生産者は、政府が補助金、低コストの融資、製造業拡大のための政策で戦略産業を支援してきたこともあり、優位を得てきました。大きな国内市場と激しい競争も、中国企業が価格を下げる助けとなりました。その結果、アメリカの工場は、かなり多く支払わずに中国製品を置き換えることが難しいと感じるかもしれません。

Rare earth elements reveal an even deeper weakness. Powerful permanent magnets made from these materials are essential for robot motors and actuators. Although rare earths can be found in several countries, China has built a dominant position in their processing and supply. The United States remains heavily dependent on China for a number of critical minerals, while rebuilding domestic supply chains could require years of investment.

レアアース元素はさらに深い弱点を明らかにします。これらの材料から作られる強力な永久磁石は、ロボットのモーターとアクチュエータに不可欠です。レアアースはいくつかの国で見つかりますが、中国はその加工と供給で支配的な地位を築いてきました。アメリカは多くの重要鉱物について中国に大きく依存したままであり、国内のサプライチェーンを再建するには何年もの投資が必要になるかもしれません。

This dependence gives Beijing a possible way to retaliate. China could limit exports of important materials or slow their delivery to American companies. Such a response might hurt the same U.S. manufacturers that the restrictions are supposed to support. America therefore faces a difficult situation: it wants to reduce its reliance on Chinese technology, but it still needs Chinese materials to build competing products.

この依存は北京に報復の可能な手段を与えます。中国は重要材料の輸出を制限したり、アメリカ企業への納品を遅らせたりするかもしれません。そのような対応は、制限が支援するはずの同じアメリカ製造業者を傷つける可能性があります。したがってアメリカは難しい状況に直面しています。中国技術への依存を減らしたい一方で、競合製品を作るにはなお中国の材料が必要なのです。

Supporters of the restrictions argue that temporary costs are necessary. Without government action, they say, American companies may never be able to compete against heavily supported Chinese manufacturers. Restrictions, subsidies and public investment could give a domestic robotics industry time to grow. The broader U.S. approach reflects concern that excessive foreign production capacity and state support can weaken competing industries in other countries.

制限の支持者は、一時的なコストは必要だと主張します。政府の行動がなければ、アメリカ企業は手厚い支援を受けた中国製造業者と決して競争できないかもしれないと言います。制限、補助金、公的投資は、国内のロボット産業に成長する時間を与えることができます。アメリカのより広いアプローチは、過度な外国の生産能力と国家支援が他国の競合産業を弱めうるという懸念を反映しています。

However, trade barriers alone cannot create a strong robotics industry. The United States will also need skilled workers, reliable suppliers, research investment and customers willing to pay higher prices. The robot dispute is therefore about far more than machines. It is about which country will control the technologies, materials and factories that may shape the next stage of the global economy.

しかし、貿易障壁だけでは強いロボット産業は作れません。アメリカには熟練労働者、信頼できる供給業者、研究投資、より高い価格を支払う意思のある顧客も必要です。したがってロボットをめぐる争いは、機械以上のものについてのものです。世界経済の次の段階を形づくるかもしれない技術、材料、工場をどの国が管理するかについてのものです。

Vocabulary

  1. battlefield — an area in which two sides compete or struggle for power. Example: Artificial intelligence has become a new economic battlefield between major powers.
  2. national security — the protection of a country, its people and its important systems from serious threats. Example: The government defended the restrictions as necessary for national security.
  3. sensor — a device that detects movement, heat, light or other changes in its surroundings. Example: The warehouse robot uses sensors to avoid workers and other machines.
  4. component — one of the parts from which a machine or system is made. Example: Several important components in the robot were produced overseas.
  5. subsidy — money given by a government to support a company, industry or activity. Example: The manufacturer received a government subsidy to build a new factory.
  6. rare earth elements — a group of metals used in magnets, electronics and many advanced technologies. Example: Rare earth elements are important for producing powerful electric motors.
  7. supply chain — the system through which materials, parts and finished products are produced and delivered. Example: A shortage of computer chips disrupted the global supply chain.
  8. retaliate — to take action against someone or another country in response to an earlier action. Example: The government threatened to retaliate by restricting important exports.
  9. reliance — the condition of depending on someone or something. Example: The country is trying to reduce its reliance on imported technology.

Comprehension Questions

  1. Why does the United States view some foreign-made robots as a security concern?
    1. They use too much electricity.
    2. They could collect data or be controlled from abroad.
    3. They are unable to work with American software.
    4. They are designed mainly for military use.

    アメリカが一部の外国製ロボットをセキュリティ上の懸念と見なすのはなぜですか？

  2. Why could the restrictions increase costs for American companies?
    1. American companies must pay a special tax on workers.
    2. Robots are no longer allowed in American factories.
    3. Many robots and their components currently come from overseas.
    4. China has stopped manufacturing industrial robots completely.

    制限がアメリカ企業のコストを上げうるのはなぜですか？

  3. What has helped Chinese robot manufacturers reduce prices?
    1. Lower demand for robots in China
    2. Government support and strong competition
    3. A lack of safety regulations in the United States
    4. Free access to American factories

    中国のロボット製造業者が価格を下げる助けとなったのは何ですか？

  4. Why are rare earth elements important to the robot industry?
    1. They are used to produce powerful magnets for motors.
    2. They provide robots with artificial intelligence.
    3. They make robots look more human.
    4. They are needed to connect robots to the internet.

    レアアース元素がロボット産業に重要なのはなぜですか？

  5. What is the main argument of the final paragraph?
    1. Trade restrictions will immediately make America the leading robot producer.
    2. China will soon stop producing robots.
    3. Building a robotics industry requires more than restricting imports.
    4. Robots will completely replace factory workers within a few years.

    最終段落の主な主張は何ですか？

Discussion Questions

  1. Should governments restrict foreign technology when it may collect sensitive data? Why or why not?

    機密データを集める可能性があるとき、政府は外国技術を制限すべきですか？それはなぜ／なぜそうではないですか？

  2. Is it reasonable for consumers and businesses to pay more for products made domestically?

    消費者や企業が国内製の製品により多く支払うことは合理的ですか？

  3. Should governments give subsidies to industries that are important for national security?

    政府は国家安全保障にとって重要な産業に補助金を与えるべきですか？

  4. How might trade restrictions affect innovation and international competition?

    貿易制限はイノベーションと国際競争にどう影響する可能性がありますか？

  5. Japan also depends on imported materials and components. What should Japan do to protect important supply chains?

    日本も輸入材料と部品に依存しています。重要なサプライチェーンを守るために日本は何をすべきですか？

Speaking Task

  1. Speak for about one minute about the growing robot dispute between the United States and China. Include: why the United States is restricting some foreign-made robots; why American companies still depend on overseas components; how China reduced the cost of producing robots; why rare earth elements are important; and whether trade restrictions can create a successful domestic industry.

    アメリカと中国のあいだで拡大するロボット紛争について約1分間話してください。アメリカが一部の外国製ロボットを制限している理由、アメリカ企業がなお海外部品に依存している理由、中国がロボット生産コストをどう下げたか、レアアース元素が重要な理由、貿易制限が成功する国内産業を作りうるかを含めてください。