A lifelike “robot antelope” is roaming Tibet’s Hoh Xil plateau as part of China’s expanding surveillance network, state media footage shows.
With doe-like eyes and thick brown fur, the 5G- and AI-enabled device closely resembles the endangered Tibetan antelope while scanning the area with its sensors, according to Xinhua. Developed by Xinhua, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Hangzhou-based DEEP Robotics, it uses real-time monitoring to track the migration, feeding and mating habits of the species.
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China has offered its robotics industry tens of billions in subsidies and recently hosted the 2025 World Robot Conference. 5G services reached Tibet in 2019 and, by 2022, the region had one million users. A base station built in Gogmo in late 2023 extended coverage to every district, state media reported.
Beyond monitoring wildlife, the infrastructure supports AI applications including drones, telemedicine and “smart” yak herding.
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Beijing has invested heavily in Tibet, integrating the region into its Belt and Road Initiative and strengthening trade links with Central Asia, while also increasing surveillance and expanding its digital presence towards neighbouring India.
A July report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies documented cases of China using local telecom networks to monitor dissidents in Nepal and engage in cyber theft.
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