How to catch a baddie: Inside China’s booming police tech industry

China’s investment in public security tech drives domestic control and a calculated export play. Nexwise, a Chinese company, sells its robodogs to 30 cities in China and to more than 20 countries across Europe, the Americas, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. This shows a clear intent to globalize China’s security apparatus and establish its tech as a standard.

The 25.5 billion yuan forecast for 2025 public security IT spending reflects a sustained commitment. This benefits companies like Nexwise and Nextorch, who are developing non-lethal devices and aerial vehicles for police use. For Southeast Asian markets, this means more accessible, lower-cost security solutions, potentially challenging established Western providers. Malaysia is already in business talks with Nexwise.

The thing to watch is how quickly these systems integrate into national security frameworks beyond China. The deployment of the robodog during the 15th National Games in 2025 proves its operational readiness. Broader adoption overseas will depend on how countries balance cost-efficiency with data privacy concerns, especially given the AI’s autonomous decision-making capabilities in over 200 scenarios.