Robot wars heat up as foreign companies enter

There will be fierce competition this year in the Chinese robotics market between foreign and domestic manufacturers, according to industry insiders.

"Big overseas robotics companies have all entered the Chinese market after years of development. Some have even moved their headquarters and production base here," said Qu Daokui, president of the Shenyang-based Siasun Robot & Automation Co Ltd, China's biggest and the world's third- biggest robotics company with a market value of 35.4 billion yuan ($5.7 billion).

"Chinese robotics companies have also seen rapid development in the past few years and have developed certain capacities, so naturally this year we will see fierce competition based on the laws of the market."