Retired Japanese Military Commander: Janpan’s Early Intervention Could Force China to Rethink Taiwan War Plans
Kiyoshi Ogawa, a former senior commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and now a think tank researcher, said in a recent talk that Japan could intervene at an early stage of a Taiwan Strait conflict. Such early involvement, he argued, would significantly disrupt China’s assumed timeline and compel it to reassess its military plans for Taiwan.
According to his analysis, China’s approach to a Taiwan scenario can be broadly divided into three phases:
- A “peacetime” phase involving psychological operations, military exercises, and a blockade aimed at deterring foreign intervention;
- Escalation into active conflict, including missile strikes and cyberattacks;
- A full-scale amphibious invasion after achieving air and sea superiority.
In November last year, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated in a parliamentary response that escalating tensions around Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. She noted circumstances a blockade of the Taiwan Strait could meet this threshold, “if Taiwan is subjected to a military attack, including a naval blockade carried out by warships in conjunction with other measures, it could be regarded as the use of force.”
China’s strategy is widely seen as relying on achieving a rapid victory before external forces—particularly the United States and Japan—can intervene. However, Japan’s position suggests that intervention could occur as early as the initial blockade phase, rather than in later stages of the conflict.
Such a shift would fundamentally alter China’s planning assumptions, potentially forcing a reassessment of its operational timeline and force deployment. Sanae Takaichi’ remarks are viewed as strategically significant and have drawn strong reactions from Beijing.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), April 27, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202604270115.aspx
Zimbabwe Makes History as Africa’s First Lithium Intermediate Exporter
Zimbabwe has taken a significant step in its ambition to capture greater value from its lithium resources. Chinese company Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt announced this week that it has shipped the first batch of lithium sulfate from its operations in the country, making Zimbabwe the first nation on the African continent to export this intermediate product to international markets.
The lithium sulfate was produced at a plant completed by Huayou’s local subsidiary, Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, in October of last year, with an annual production capacity of 50,000 tons. The exact volume of the first shipment was not disclosed. Lithium sulfate can be further processed into lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide, both of which are essential compounds for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries.
The announcement comes weeks after Zimbabwean authorities suspended exports of lithium concentrate, citing irregularities in the export process. The government has since been pushing for stricter local processing requirements, demanding that companies submit written commitments to establish lithium sulfate production lines before January 1, 2027. Until that deadline, a 10% export tax remains in effect, with a new concentrate export ban planned to follow.
As Africa’s largest lithium producer and China’s second-largest supplier, Zimbabwe is eager to derive more economic benefit from the sector. In 2025, the country’s spodumene concentrate exports grew nearly 12 percent, rising from 1.01 million tons to 1.13 million tons. However, falling prices meant export revenues dipped slightly, from $514.5 million to $513.8 million year-on-year.
Other Chinese operators, including Sinomine and Sichuan Yahua, are also accelerating lithium sulfate processing projects at the Bikita and Kamativi mines respectively. While lithium sulfate carries more value than raw concentrate, it still falls short of the final battery-grade products. Whether this momentum will translate into substantial economic gains for Zimbabwe, or serve merely as a stepping stone to higher-value processing, remains to be seen.
Source: Radio France International, May 1, 2026
https://rfi.my/Cf7b
ESET Uncovers New China-Linked APT “GopherWhisper” Leveraging Legitimate Platforms
Researchers from the Slovak cybersecurity firm ESET have identified a previously unknown China-linked advanced persistent threat (APT) group dubbed GopherWhisper. The group leverages legitimate platforms—including Discord, Slack, Microsoft 365 Outlook, and file-sharing services—to carry out command-and-control (C&C) communications and data exfiltration.
Active since at least November 2023, the group is believed to operate from China based on timestamp analysis of chat logs and email activity. It deploys a suite of custom malware tools—primarily written in Go—using injectors and loaders to install backdoors and facilitate cyber-espionage.
Among the identified tools are several backdoors, including LaxGopher, RatGopher, BoxOfFriends, and SSLORDoor, as well as a data exfiltration tool, an injector, and a malicious DLL. Notably, the malware exhibits no code or tactical overlap with previously known threat actors, leading ESET to classify it as a distinct new APT group.
The campaign was first uncovered in January 2025 within a Mongolian government system, where the LaxGopher backdoor was observed using Slack for C&C operations. Subsequent analysis indicates that, in addition to the Mongolian target, dozens of other organizations may have been affected.
Source: Epoch Times, April 26, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/4/25/n14749648.htm
China Extends Zero Tariffs to All African Diplomatic Partners
China’s Ministry of Finance has announced that the country will implement zero tariffs on imports from all 53 African nations with which it maintains diplomatic relations, effective May 1, 2026.
The policy was first announced by President Xi Jinping in a congratulatory message to the 39th African Union Summit on February 14, 2026, in which he declared that China would fully implement zero tariffs for all 53 diplomatically recognized African countries while continuing to pursue the signing of Joint Development Economic Partnership Agreements.
To put the measure into effect, China’s State Council Tariff Commission issued a formal notice specifying that from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2028, zero tariffs will be extended to 20 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China but do not currently qualify as least-developed nations. These countries will receive the preferential rates in the form of a special tariff reduction. However, for products subject to tariff-rate quotas, only the within-quota rates will be reduced to zero, while rates on above-quota imports will remain unchanged. During this two-year implementation period, China said it will continue to push forward negotiations on Joint Development Economic Partnership Agreements with the relevant African countries.
The State Council Tariff Commission described the sweeping measure as a concrete step in China’s commitment to expanding high-level openness and broadening autonomous liberalization. Officials also framed it as a key initiative to deliver on the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and to strengthen what Beijing calls an “all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future.” The commission expressed confidence that the policy would inject significant momentum into China-Africa trade, investment cooperation, and broader African economic development.
Source: Sputnik News, April 29, 2026
https://sputniknews.cn/20260429/1071020254.html
Public Skepticism Over China’s Claim That ‘Lying Flat’ Is Driven by Foreign Forces
On April 28, China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) published an article claiming that foreign organizations have funded so-called “lying flat influencers” on platforms such as Douyin and Kuaishou to produce short videos promoting messages like “lying flat is justice” and “anti-involution equals anti-exploitation.” The ministry alleged that anti-China forces abroad are amplifying social anxiety online and spreading narratives such as “hard work is pointless” to shape the mindset of Chinese youth (see Chinascope briefing, “China State Security Claims ‘Hostile Forces’ Are Promoting ‘Lying Flat’ Among Youth”).
The statement was met with widespread skepticism. A netizen from Guangdong, surnamed Liu, told Radio Free Asia that young people today are capable of independent thinking and are not easily manipulated. He argued that the deeper issue lies in the lack of a fair and competitive environment, and that attributing youth disengagement to foreign interference underestimates the public’s judgment.
Online, many users questioned the claims and called on the MSS to provide evidence and specific case details. Some linked the rise of the “lying flat” mindset to structural pressures such as high housing costs and limited job opportunities. Others responded with sarcasm, asking for a public list of influencers allegedly receiving foreign funding and the amounts involved.
A former prosecutor from Anhui said he found the framing not merely unconvincing but troubling, warning that labeling lifestyle commentary as a national security issue evokes echoes of the Cultural Revolution. A legal scholar added that “lying flat” reflects genuine and widespread frustration—particularly the difficulty of upward mobility for lower-income groups and a sense of futility after years of economic strain, including high property prices.
Official data show that youth unemployment among those aged 16 to 24 reached 16.9 percent in March, the highest level this year, while some analysts estimate the actual rate could be closer to 34 percent. The MSS has not released detailed evidence or identified any specific organizations in support of its claims.
Source: Radio Free Asia, April 29, 2026
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/zhengzhi/2026/04/29/china-lieflat-nationalsecurity-foreign-forces/
Chinese Firm Lists on Nasdaq Without CSRC Approval, Halted the Same Day
On April 24, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) announced proposed administrative penalties against Heilongjiang Zhongneng Lianke Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. (“Zhongneng Lianke”) and related intermediaries for violations of overseas listing filing requirements.
In December 2024, Zhong Guo Liang Tou Group Limited—later renamed Liangke Technology Innovation Bio (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd., and commonly referred to as “China Grain Investment”—submitted a filing to the CSRC through its mainland operating entity, Zhongneng Lianke, seeking to list on Nasdaq via a de-SPAC merger. The CSRC accepted the filing in March 2025 and requested additional documentation.
However, on October 1, 2025, before completing the required filing process, the company proceeded with its Nasdaq listing through a SPAC merger. After discovering the violation, the CSRC notified U.S. regulators through cross-border cooperation mechanisms, and trading in the company’s shares was halted on the same day it began.
Regulators have proposed fines of 3 million yuan for the company and 1.5 million yuan for the executive directly responsible, along with additional penalties for the law firm involved and its legal counsel.
Zhongneng Lianke is a private company based in Heilongjiang Province and is wholly owned by a Hong Kong shell entity.
Source: Phoenix
https://h5.ifeng.com/c/vivo/v002dDE1YnE-_PinPSMo66F73seKCyoJxVEx54zXTnJvMDqg__?vivoBusiness=hiboardnews
PLA Daily: Japan’s Strategic Calculations Behind Its Frigate Export to Australia
People’s Daily recently republished a commentary from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Daily analyzing Japan’s frigate export agreement with Australia.
Japan and Australia have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop new Australian naval vessels based on Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class frigate. As frigates are fully armed combat platforms, the move is widely viewed as enabling Japan’s first post–World War II export of a major warship under the guise of joint development. It signals a shift in Japan–Australia defense ties from limited cooperation toward deeper and more comprehensive military integration.
This growing partnership is driven by multiple factors. While exporting frigates may help Japan offset development costs and bolster its defense industry, the article argues that Tokyo’s objectives extend well beyond economic considerations.
First, Japan seeks to use defense exports as a means to expand military ties beyond its alliance with the United States, deepen its integration into Western security frameworks, and elevate its status as a major military power.
Second, if Australia adopts the platform and establishes supporting maintenance and logistics systems, it could create favorable conditions for Japanese vessels to access resupply and servicing in the region, thereby extending Japan’s operational reach.
For Australia, closer alignment with Japan helps address capability gaps and strengthen its regional influence. The partnership is also supported by the United States, which views both countries as key allies in the Asia-Pacific and has encouraged closer defense cooperation between them.
Source: People’s Daily, April 29, 2026
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0429/c1011-40710946.html
China State Security Claims “Hostile Forces” Are Promoting “Lying Flat” Among Youth
Amid mounting economic pressure and intense competition, some young people in China have embraced the idea of “lying flat” (躺平)—a mindset that rejects relentless striving. Xinhua News Agency recently republished an article by China’s Ministry of State Security claiming that “hostile anti-China forces” are actively promoting this trend in an effort to weaken the country.
According to the article, foreign actors are using online platforms to amplify social anxiety and spread narratives such as “hard work is useless” and “effort leads to loss.” These messages, it argues, are intended to mislead young people, erode their motivation, and undermine core social values. The article further alleges that some overseas organizations fund media outlets, think tanks, and online influencers to promote “lying flat” as a form of resistance, producing content that discourages ambition.
It also contends that while these actors encourage Chinese youth to disengage, their own countries continue to pursue growth through economic policies, talent recruitment, and development initiatives. The article concludes that the promotion of “lying flat” is a deliberate attempt to weaken China’s future by dampening the drive of its younger generation.
Source: Xinhua, April 28, 2026
https://app.xinhuanet.com/news/article.html?articleId=20260428b9c2ef54d8a242738d84821a7ce63aba