BBC SoundsSounds home pageMenuHomeMusicPodcastsMy SoundsUse BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.Find out how to listen to other BBC stationsEpisode detailsWorld Service,·11 Aug 2026,·27 minsChina’s a robot superpower – but are the people being left behind?The Global StoryPlayBookmarkBookmarkSubscribeSubscribeAvailable for over a yearFor decades, the Chinese Communist Party has had a distinct economic bargain with its people — obedience in exchange for economic prosperity. China continues to lead the world in sectors like green technology and robotics, but in recent years, economic growth has slowed. Signs of unrest and unease have appeared. So what happens when the government struggles to hold up its end of the bargain? The BBC’s China correspondent Laura Bicker speaks with Asma Khalid about the Chinese citizens who feel they are being left behind. Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Cat Farnsworth Executive producer: Martine Powers Mix: Travis Evans Digital producer: Matt Pintus Senior news editor: China Collins Photo: Employees work on a production line at a garment factory in Guangzhou, China, July 27, 2026. 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