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
Leaked Screenshot Points to Advanced Social Media Analysis Platform in China
A screenshot—purportedly from an internal Chinese public security social media analysis system—has recently circulated online. Although its authenticity cannot be independently verified, the platform it appears to depict is consistent with China’s broader push to expand and refine digital surveillance.
The interface, labeled “Social Media Account Information Analysis System,” suggests an integrated framework that consolidates user activity, device data, and identity information into structured profiles. It features tools for account search, behavioral analysis, and risk assessment. In addition to basic account details—such as profile image, user ID, follower count, and posting frequency—the system reportedly tracks IP location, login devices, and browsing history, creating a comprehensive and traceable record of user behavior.
Notably, the interface includes sections labeled “personal information” and “family members,” indicating the ability to link social media accounts to real-world identities through phone numbers, email addresses, and familial relationships. This integration enables cross-referencing between online activity and offline identity, effectively rendering individuals identifiable and trackable within a unified system.
If authentic, the system would mark a shift in focus from content monitoring to identity-based surveillance. Rather than concentrating solely on what users say, it appears designed to determine who they are, where they are located, and how they are connected to others. By structuring identity data in this way, authorities could move beyond monitoring individual posts to overseeing and managing individuals more holistically—potentially extending surveillance across entire social networks.
Source: Epoch Times, April 22, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/4/22/n14747219.htm
China’s “Emotional Economy” Booms Due to Rising Stress and Uncertainty
In early 2026, viral products like a plush toy—and behaviors such as speaking to pets through cameras or turning to AI chatbots for emotional support—highlighted the rapid rise of China’s “emotional economy.” Now a widely used buzzword and even referenced in government reports, the term describes consumption driven less by practical needs than by the pursuit of emotional experiences. According to the “China Emotional Economy Consumption Trends Insight Report (2025–2029)” released by iiMedia Research, the market reached 2.3 trillion yuan (US$ 340 billion) in 2024 and is projected to exceed 4.5 trillion yuan (US$ 660 billion) by 2029.
Emotional consumption spans areas such as pet companionship and AI companions (offering comfort and connection), as well as collectibles and fandom-related goods (enabling identity and self-expression). Its defining feature is a shift away from material utility toward fulfilling psychological and emotional needs.
Several forces are driving this trend. Rising stress and uncertainty in modern life are pushing individuals to seek relief and a greater sense of control. At the same time, evolving social dynamics—particularly the dominance of online interaction—have contributed to a growing sense of loneliness. Advances in digital technology further accelerate the trend by making emotionally driven consumption more immediate and accessible.
Younger consumers, especially Gen Z, are at the forefront: surveys show that over 90 percent recognize emotional value, and nearly 60 percent are willing to pay for it. Meanwhile, older adults—often referred to as the “silver generation” (typically aged 60 and above)—are increasingly participating as well, transforming emotional consumption into a cross-generational phenomenon.
Source: China Social Science Network, April 1, 2026
https://www.cssn.cn/skgz/bwyc/202604/t20260401_5978910.shtml
China Orders Gig Workers to “Follow the Party” as Economy Weakens
As China’s economy continues to struggle, the number of ride-hailing drivers, food delivery couriers, and express package handlers has surged. In response, the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee and the State Council have jointly published a directive titled “Opinions on Strengthening Service Management for New Employment Groups,” originally issued internally on October 29, 2025, and made public today.
The document, reported by state broadcaster CCTV, describes gig workers as an “important component of socialist laborers” and an indispensable force in economic and social development. It calls on these workers to “listen to the Party and follow the Party,” with the stated goal of continuously consolidating the CCP’s long-term ruling foundations across class, public, and social bases.
The directive sets out a clear timeline. By 2027, authorities aim to establish a fully coordinated management mechanism ensuring that Party organizations and Party activities comprehensively cover all “new employment groups,” while gradually standardizing labor practices, improving working conditions, and protecting workers’ legal rights. In the three to five years following 2027, the directive calls for further strengthening of ideological and political guidance, more harmonious labor relations, and greater recognition of gig work as a legitimate profession.
A significant focus of the document is ideological alignment. It requires that gig workers receive education in “ideal and conviction,” along with targeted outreach promoting Chinese-style modernization, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the “Chinese Dream” of national rejuvenation. Workers are also to be guided toward identifying politically, intellectually, theoretically, and emotionally with the Party.
On the labor rights front, the directive instructs relevant companies to set reasonable wages, pay them in full and on time, protect workers’ rest entitlements, and strengthen protections during adverse weather and other special circumstances. News media and online platforms are to be used to foster a positive social atmosphere of respect and understanding toward gig workers.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), April 26, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202604260160.aspx