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Briefings

China’s Economic Leverage in Africa Behind Taiwan’s Blocked Presidential Trip

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te was forced to postpone his planned visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini, Taiwan’s only remaining African ally, after Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles revoked overflight permits for his aircraft. Taiwan’s Presidential Office confirmed the delay was the result of Chinese interference, calling Beijing’s repeated claims of goodwill toward Taiwan fundamentally dishonest.

The incident drew international attention, with U.S. Republican Congressman Pat Harrigan stating on social media that China used debt leverage to pressure the three nations into blocking Taiwan’s president from their airspace — achieving a form of economic warfare without firing a single shot, given that Beijing holds more than half the debt of African continent nations.

China’s economic footprint in Africa has grown substantially in recent years. In 2025, China-Africa bilateral trade reached approximately 2.49 trillion yuan (around US$343 billion), up 18.4 percent year-on-year. Chinese exports to Africa rose 26.5 percent to roughly 1.61 trillion yuan (US$222 billion), while imports from Africa grew 6 percent to about 880 billion yuan (US$121 billion).

Among the three countries that blocked Taiwan’s flight, China-Seychelles trade reached $112 million in 2025, with Chinese imports from Seychelles surging 817.3 percent to $1.896 million. China-Madagascar trade stood at $1.673 billion, while trade with Mauritius reached $703 million in the first eight months of 2025 alone.

The episode unfolded as Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Mozambique’s president in Beijing and reiterated plans to implement zero tariffs for 53 African nations starting May 1 — pointedly excluding Eswatini, Taiwan’s sole African diplomatically. Earlier, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng had visited Seychelles in March, with the Seychellois president affirming his country’s unwavering commitment to the one-China policy.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), April 22, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202604220150.aspx

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Urges Taiwan to Pass Defense Spending Budget

At a congressional hearing on April 21, U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Samuel Paparo warned that Taiwan must commit sufficient funding to its own defense. He stressed that U.S. support cannot exceed Taiwan’s own commitment and urged lawmakers to pass a long-delayed defense budget.

Paparo emphasized that Taiwan’s defense spending is essential despite U.S. assistance under the Taiwan Relations Act, arguing that without adequate investment, security cannot be sustained. He added that concrete budget action—rather than rhetoric—will demonstrate Taiwan’s commitment to self-defense.

The remarks come amid political gridlock in Taiwan, where a proposed $40 billion, eight-year defense budget by President Lai Ching-te has been stalled in a legislature dominated by the opposition Kuomintang. The party has recently drawn attention for closer engagement with Beijing, including Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s visit to mainland China in April and her meeting with Xi Jinping.

The stalled budget has attracted strong concern in Washington, with bipartisan U.S. lawmakers urging Taiwan to act quickly and signaling potential new arms sales of up to $14 billion.

Source: Epoch Times, Top of Form

April 22, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/4/22/n14746992.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

People’s Daily: China’s Optical Fiber Industry Sees Surge in Prices and Demand Driven by AI Data Centers

China’s optical fiber industry is experiencing a rare boom, with both prices and demand rising sharply. Prices for specialized fiber have jumped as much as 650 percent, while production and sales in the first quarter grew by over 35 percent, with some companies reporting nearly fivefold increases.

The demand shift is largely driven by AI and data centers rather than traditional telecom uses like 5G or fiber-to-home. As large AI models expand, data center traffic is growing rapidly, requiring high-speed optical interconnects. Global demand for data center fiber is expected to exceed 100 million core-kilometers by 2026, with hyperscale AI facilities needing 5–10 times more fiber than conventional data centers.

At the same time, supply is constrained. The upstream production of optical fiber preforms—where most profits and technical barriers lie—requires long investment cycles, and earlier industry downturns reduced capacity. This has led to a global supply shortage.

Chinese manufacturers are emerging as key suppliers, benefiting from advanced production technologies, lower costs, and faster delivery. China now accounts for over 60 percent of the global fiber and cable market and about 70 percent of production capacity. Leading firms such as Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company dominate high-end segments, positioning China at the center of the global supply chain.

Source: People’s Daily, April 21, 2026
http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0421/c1004-40705509.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

People’s Daily: U.S. Air Force Restructuring in Japan Faces Ongoing Challenges

In late March, the U.S. Air Force began upgrading equipment at the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base in Japan while restructuring the Fifth Air Force’s command system. The move is part of broader efforts to strengthen forward deployment under the Indo-Pacific strategy and position the Fifth Air Force as a key operational command hub in the region.

However, the changes also highlight underlying challenges. The Fifth Air Force’s responsibilities have expanded to include combat command, cross-domain coordination, and rapid response, but without a corresponding increase in personnel or resources. This raises concerns about potential operational strain and insufficient support capacity. Coordination difficulties may also emerge, as other U.S. commands in the region have not undergone comparable reforms.

The restructuring further underscores tensions in U.S.–Japan defense cooperation. While the United States is pushing for greater burden-sharing from Japan, it continues to retain control over command authority—potentially conflicting with Japan’s pursuit of greater strategic autonomy. This misalignment could limit deeper operational integration beyond routine exercises and intelligence sharing.

Additionally, the shift of bases such as Yokota from logistical support roles to frontline command functions has raised concerns among the Japanese public about being drawn into potential conflicts. Analysts suggest the move could contribute to heightened geopolitical tensions in the region.

Source: People’s Daily, April 8, 2026
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0408/c1011-40697135.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

U.S. Blocks Chinese Firm’s Acquisition of Dutch LED Company Over Security Concerns

China’s LED chipmaker San’an Optoelectronics has abandoned its $239 million plan to acquire Dutch firm Lumileds after the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) determined the deal posed “unresolvable national security risks.” Following multiple rounds of review, both parties withdrew the application on April 17, 2026.

The deal, announced in 2025 with Malaysian partner Inari Amertron, aimed to acquire Lumileds’ global operations, including production facilities in Singapore and Malaysia, to support San’an’s overseas expansion and strengthen its ability to serve international customers. Lumileds specializes in high-end LED products used in automotive lighting, camera flashes, and specialty applications.

The failed acquisition marks another setback for Chinese tech firms’ overseas investments amid increasing regulatory scrutiny, following the dispute involving Nexperia. It is also the second time CFIUS has blocked a Chinese-related bid for Lumileds, after rejecting a similar acquisition in 2016 over concerns about control of dual-use semiconductor technologies.

Source: Epoch Times, April 18, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/b5/26/4/17/n14743885.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend Information/Technology

Former Xinjiang Police Officer Defects in Germany, Alleges Abuse in Detention System

A report by German news outlet Der Spiegel states that a former Chinese police officer from Xinjiang, identified as Zhang Yabo, defected during a tour in Germany in 2025 and has since publicly described alleged abuses against Uyghurs. He reportedly fled with a laptop containing documents he claims provide evidence of repression and later contacted the World Uyghur Congress in Munich.

Zhang said he worked for about nine years as a prison guard and police officer in Xinjiang, where he described a system combining detention camps, surveillance, and political control targeting Uyghurs. He alleged that detainees were frequently subjected to beatings and other forms of mistreatment during interrogations, with some deaths occurring in custody and limited access to medical care.

According to his account, authorities also carried out extensive monitoring in local communities, collecting personal data on residents—including religious activities, contacts, and behavior—and reporting regularly to higher-level security agencies. He claimed that individuals could be detained arbitrarily based on broad or vague criteria, and that officials were under pressure to identify and report suspects.

Zhang also described broader social control measures, including incentives for interethnic marriages and the classification of certain individuals, such as unmarried or disobedient people, as “mentally ill” for monitoring purposes.

Source: Epoch Times, April 17, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/4/17/n14743438.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Government/Politics

China Tightens Controls on Officials’ Contacts with Overseas Individuals

Reports indicate that Chinese authorities have strengthened internal restrictions on contact with individuals who have overseas ties. Since early 2026, personnel within the police, prosecution, and judicial systems have reportedly been required to avoid, report, or even cut off contact with people considered to have “foreign backgrounds,” including former classmates and friends. Such interactions, once private, are now treated as potential security risks subject to scrutiny.

Several cases illustrate the impact of these measures. Individuals returning from abroad have found that former classmates or contacts working in government-related roles avoid meeting them, fail to respond to messages, or cancel plans. In some instances, officials have indicated that meeting overseas contacts requires prior approval and internal review, making private meetings difficult.

Others have resorted to indirect or limited communication to reduce risk, such as responding through intermediaries or meeting briefly in public places where encounters can be framed as coincidental. Overall, the measures reflect tighter social and professional controls within China’s system regarding overseas connections.

Source: Epoch Times, April 7, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/4/7/n14736283.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

People’s Daily: China Advances “Space Computing” to Support Future AI and Data Needs

China is accelerating the development of “space computing,” an approach that places data centers and AI processing capabilities on satellites, allowing data to be processed directly in orbit rather than transmitted back to Earth.

At the recent “2026 Space Computing Industry Conference,” China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that it will support forward-looking research in space computing technologies and promote the development of an industry ecosystem. China also established its first collaborative platform for the sector—the “Space Computing Professional Committee.”

Space computing enables satellites to analyze and process data in real time, reducing transmission demands and improving efficiency. It includes models such as space (in-orbit) data processing, ground data processing, and integrated space–ground computing networks. Compared with ground-based data centers, space systems offer broader territorial coverage and stronger real-time capabilities.

Although initial costs—such as satellite launches and hardware—are high, long-term advantages include lower energy consumption, thanks to solar power and natural cooling in space, as well as reduced data transmission costs. Estimates suggest that a space-based computing center could reach cost parity with ground-based facilities within about 15 years.

China views space computing as a strategic frontier, driven by rapidly growing demand for computing power in areas such as AI, autonomous driving, and remote sensing. The country is already among the global leaders in deploying space-based computing networks and aims to leverage its early-mover advantage to strengthen its position in next-generation digital and aerospace industries.

Source: People’s Daily, April 10, 2026
http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0410/c1004-40698717.html

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology