China's robotics rush shows how its debt can get out of control

Wuhu

DOWN a side street bracketed by massage parlours and cheap hotels in this city on the banks of the Yangtze river, a humanoid food service robot trundles around the corner of a table in a cafe, red eyes flashing in tune with synthesised classical music.

The Wuhu Hands On Café's waiter, named "Hero", has no customers on a drizzly Friday morning. He is, though, a symbol of Wuhu city's hopes of becoming a major centre for robotics, and the local government's ability to chase that dream through the debt markets, whether it makes commercial sense or not.