Nigeria Times

By Huan Yuping, People’s Daily

Recently, leaders of the five Nordic countries and Canada issued a joint statement, announcing plans to advance shared principles and interests through regularized, multi-level meeting. International observers view this as an emerging “middle power” alliance to reduce dependence on the United States.

“If we are not at the table, we will be on the menu.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s stark warning earlier this year captured the growing anxiety among traditional U.S. allies amid resurgent power politics and shifting global rules. His prescription? Middle powers must awaken.

To understand this geopolitical shift’s implications, three questions merit examination.

First, What defines middle powers?

Occupying the global hierarchy’s middle tier, these states lack superpower dominance but resist subordination to major powers. They possess meaningful economic strength, diplomatic agency, and regional influence.

Their growing assertiveness reflects fundamental global transformations. Intensifying geopolitical competition has destabilized international systems, while hegemonic actions increasingly threaten core national interests. Compelled to protect their sovereignty, middle powers are prioritizing strategic autonomy and mutual cooperation.

Second, how does their rise reshape global dynamics?

This activism accelerates multipolarity’s irreversible advance. A 2026 report by Australia’s Institute for Economics and Peace shows that the collective rise of middle powers is profoundly reshaping the global power balance, and will continue to be a key force influencing the direction of the international order over the next two decades.

True multipolarity extends beyond power redistribution: it enables diverse development models, governance approaches, and civilizational coexistence. Historically dominated by few powers, today’s international system benefits as middle powers counterbalance unilateralism through coordinated positions.

Yet caution remains: Cooperation shouldn’t undermine multilateralism. If middle-power alliances prioritize exclusive interests over universal rules, they risk becoming new factional blocs — tools for heightened geopolitical rivalry. Critically, lasting autonomy requires confronting structural dependencies on hegemonic powers, not merely reacting to their policies.

Third, how can middle powers strengthen global stability? 

Faced with a world marked by turbulence and transformation, middle powers certainly have a legitimate need to safeguard their own rights and interests. However, such efforts should proceed from the bigger picture, addressing the root causes in order and governance, and helping shape an overall environment more conducive to peace and development.

They should make efforts to build an equal and orderly multipolar world. Regardless of size or strength, all countries are equal stakeholders in the international community, and should abide by universally recognized international rules. Only in this way can the “awakening” of middle powers be transformed into a driving force for cooperation, and deliver sustained benefits to world peace and development.

They must firmly uphold international rule of law and fairness and justice. In today’s international relations, the rule of law serves as the fundamental guarantee and the essential foundation for fairness and justice. Middle powers should defend their legitimate rights and interests within the framework of international law, fully, faithfully, and comprehensively observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and other universally recognized basic norms governing international relations, and firmyly reject double standards. Only then can they effectively uphold the authority and seriousness of international rule of law.

They need to stand united in opposing hegemonism and power politics. The most prominent global challenge today lies in hegemonic acts that gravely destabilize the international order. If middle powers truly wish to play a greater and more positive role in international affairs, they should unite with the broader international community, uphold the principle that international affairs should be discussed and handled by all countries together, build the broadest possible consensus for defending multilateralism, and speak with one voice in safeguarding international order.

Transcending the “menu or table” paradigm demands addressing root causes. By abandoning zero-sum mentalities and embracing inclusive multilateral cooperation — jointly pursued and mutually beneficial — middle powers can forge stability through consensus. This constructive approach will sustain their vital contributions to global peace, stability, and shared prosperity.

By Michael Oduro

A significant announcement recently captured attention across African social media: China has granted zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations.

This move comes at a critical time, as global protectionism rises and the international trade environment faces unprecedented challenges. China’s move has created a significant opportunity for Africa to expand exports and accelerate industrialization. 

As an African journalist living and working in China, I have gained intimate, firsthand insights into the potential impact of this policy. 

In recent years, I have noticed how African products are gradually becoming more visible in Chinese daily life. Ethiopian coffee, Ghanaian shea butter, Kenyan tea — products that once felt distant are now available on major e-commerce platforms and increasingly appearing in supermarkets and specialty stores across China. Crucially, they are finding a warm reception among Chinese consumers.

It is no exaggeration to say this zero-tariff policy is reshaping the structure of China-Africa trade, opening new commercial pathways, and fostering a deeper appreciation among Chinese consumers for the quality of African goods. By lowering trade costs and expanding market access, China is effectively opening its doors — the world’s largest consumer market — to African farmers, businesses, and entrepreneurs more directly than ever before. Rooted in the principle of shared prosperity, this initiative fully demonstrates China’s commitment to supporting Africa’s economic development and its deeper integration into the global trading system.

Africans understand profoundly the historical difficulties African products have faced in penetrating global markets. For years, Africa’s foreign trade has been constrained by structural bottlenecks that severely undermined its international competitiveness. 

High tariffs, complicated customs procedures and weak cross-border logistics have often squeezed profit margins long before products even left the continent. 

Simultaneously, protectionist policies and additional tariffs imposed by some developed economies further compounded Africa’s trade challenges.

Given this context, China’s announcement of zero-tariff treatment for these 53 nations struck me as a powerful potential accelerator for development. It offers African goods unprecedented efficiency and reach into the vast Chinese market.

My coverage of last year’s 8th China International Import Expo left a lasting impression, particularly the debut of a dedicated exhibition zone for products from least developed countries. Seeing African specialties showcased there was deeply moving. Many African entrepreneurs told me the expo provided unmatched exposure for their products, and they eagerly anticipated the opportunities the zero-tariff policy would bring. Today, that anticipation is translating into tangible purchase orders and genuine benefits for African producers.

Of course, policy dividends do not automatically guarantee development. African countries must act proactively and seize the opportunity. Key steps include improving cross-border logistics, aligning products with Chinese market quality standards, and developing distinctive goods tailored to Chinese consumer preferences to transform policy advantages into concrete economic gains.

From my vantage point in China, I’ve witnessed African entrepreneurs tackling market challenges with impressive resolve. They are strategically positioning themselves within the Chinese market, adapting to consumer demands, and scaling up production. A growing number of African business leaders are blending entrepreneurial drive with strategic clarity, striving to convert potential into tangible improvements in livelihoods across the continent.

Through years of study and work in China, and participation in various Sino-African economic, trade, and cultural exchange activities, I’ve also felt a strong mutual desire for respect and cooperation. This embodies the true value of the China-Africa partnership — one built on solidarity and shared development.

The year 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and African countries. The zero-tariff policy vividly demonstrates China’s efforts to practice the principles of the country’s Africa policy — sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and to pursue the greater good and shared interests. It reflects China’s openness, sense of responsibility, and belief in shared prosperity.

The “zero-tariff express” has started running. The challenge now is for African countries to seize this historic opportunity by strengthening their industrial foundations, improving logistics infrastructure, ensuring product quality, and building competitive brands that resonate with the Chinese consumers. 

With the strong foundation of China-Africa friendship and mature cooperation mechanisms already in place, African countries are fully capable of turning the advantages of zero tariffs into tangible economic and social benefits.

The future has already arrived. And Africa, without question, is beginning to pick up speed.

By Yang Zhilin

Terms like “AI agent” and “token” are becoming commonplace, reflecting how once-niche open-source AI projects are now spawning entirely new business models and market opportunities.

Amid this wave of technological transformation, China’s homegrown large models are advancing rapidly and finding broader real-world applications, injecting fresh momentum into the intelligent economy while increasingly serving as a foundation for global innovation.

As a core engine driving the next technological revolution and industrial upgrade, AI is now approaching a critical stage of development. In programming, for example, AI has already demonstrated enormous potential in code design, writing, testing and deployment. For many knowledge-intensive tasks, AI now performs at levels comparable to human professional experts.  

There is broad industry consensus that AI will significantly boost productivity in the coming years, becoming an increasingly capable in both professional and personal contexts.

In the past, discussions about China’s internet and digital economy largely focused on the country’s vast user base and diverse application scenarios. Those advantages have continued into the AI era. In March this year, China’s daily token usage surpassed 140 trillion, marking more than a 1,000-fold increase in just two years. The number of users of generative AI has exceeded 600 million, or 42.8 percent of the total Chinese population. Crucially, China has developed a new generation of self-developed large models capable of competing with the world’s leading systems, solidifying its role as an increasingly important contributor to global AI innovation.

China’s large models are advancing on multiple fronts: not just in quantity, but also in quality, real-world adoption and global influence. Examples include their top-tier performance on international AI benchmarks, rapid progress in multimodal capabilities, and the evolution from single agents to agent clusters.

Last year, Chinese open-source large models topped global downloads. In a recent technical report, our team redesign the residual connection, a key component of the Transformer architecture, from its underlying logic, marking the first such redesign in a decade. This has unlocked new evolutionary horizons for model training and has sparked widespread discussion at home and abroad. The new technology not only enables a broader range of domestic chips to be effectively used for large-model inference, but also reduces overall operating costs.

Chinese open-source models today boast advantages in both quantity and quality. They are increasingly setting benchmarks in global model evaluations and important samples for overseas research institutions, while gaining greater international influence. 

Kimi, the large model developed by our team at Moonshot AI, has gained substantial traction in the global market due to its strong cost-performance ratio. It has become a high-productivity tool for numerous overseas developers and end-s, with paid API (Application Programming Interface) calls and other key business metrics showing robust growth.

We believe Chinese open-source models offer a distinct path from closed, proprietary systems. They are well-suited for widespread global adoption and can foster a healthy, open ecosystem — one that drives worldwide AI progress through collaboration and shared innovation. As the adage goes, “many hands make light work.”

The rapid evolution of large models also requires patience, persistence and long-term commitment. Technological breakthroughs never happen overnight. Throughout the process of exploration, solving one problem often leads directly to the next. Only by confronting challenges head-on and steadily working through them can we continue making meaningful progress along the long road of AI development, with persistent efforts eventually delivering substantial long-term returns.

For thousands of years, humanity has sought new ways to push beyond the boundaries of knowledge. Today, AI has the potential to become one of the most powerful tools for achieving that goal. By pursuing solid foundational innovation and embracing an open and collaborative mindset, we aim to provide accessible AI technologies to the world and contribute greater Chinese insights and strength to the future of global innovation.

(Yang Zhilin is founder and CEO of Kimi developer Moonshot AI. The article was compiled and edited from an interview with People’s Daily reporter Gu Yekai.)

By Wu Xian

Recently, a Japanese student learned about the historical facts of the Nanjing Massacre at an international school and later expressed feelings of remorse at home. Instead of encouraging reflection, the student’s father reacted with fury. He posted on social media calling for a “boycott of international education” and attempted to mislead his daughter using distorted historical records promoted by Japan’s right wing.

Even more alarming was the response online. Large numbers of Japanese netizens echoed his views. Some falsely claimed that teaching the historical facts amounted to “brainwashing children,” while others demanded tighter government oversight of international schools to prevent students from learning about this period of history.

Such an absurd episode raises an unsettling question: faced with well-documented historical facts, why have such distorted perceptions become so widespread on Japanese online platforms?

Behind this phenomenon lies years of systematic manipulation by Japan’s right-wing forces.

One method has been the creation of a dark industrial chain of online opinion manipulation. 

According to an investigation by Japan’s The Asahi Shimbun, the Japanese crowdsourcing platform CrowdWorks has long paid netizens to deliberately collect or use AI to generate smear content. Such false narratives label Chinese people as uncivilized, brand them as anti-Japanese, and even claim the Nanjing Massacre is a lie.

They exploit right-wing narratives that distort history and stoke confrontation as a means to chase online traffic and monetary gains, forming a fully fledged malicious industrial chain.

Leveraging online platforms, Japanese right-wing forces manufacture rumors and spread extremist remarks in a systematic, industrialized way. This has left many Japanese netizens, already misled by distorted historical views, further unable to reflect on and condemn the wars of aggression.

Another driving force has been the role of Japan’s right-leaning government in amplifying such narratives.

The widespread circulation of distorted historical views and anti-China rhetoric in Japanese society did not emerge on its own. According to available statistics, since 2015, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has allocated more than 56 billion yen ($356 million) under programs labeled “strategic international information dissemination,” much of which has reportedly been used to promote negative narratives about China overseas.

This has included funding foreign media outlets, think tanks and online influencers to spread claims such as “China reopens historical wounds” or “stirs anti-Japanese sentiment.” The aim is to confuse international public opinion and whitewash Japan’s wartime history.

Public funds intended for domestic welfare have, according to these reports, been diverted to amplify right-wing narratives. This has contributed to an online environment where distorted historical views, particularly targeting younger generations, are systematically reinforced.

By continuously smearing China and exaggerating the so-called “China threat,” Japanese right-wing forces seek to manufacture regional tensions and create public support for loosening the constraints of Japan’s pacifist constitution, expanding the role of the Self-Defense Forces and increasing overseas military involvement.

From distorting the history of World War II and glorifying aggression to hyping external threats and fostering security anxieties, these efforts all serve a broader strategic ambition: reviving militarist thinking and paving the way for Japan to pursue the status of a major military power.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, also known as the Tokyo Trials. Yet eight decades of historical judgment, moral reflection and legal restraint have failed to fundamentally change the entrenched historical revisionism of Japan’s right-wing forces or erase their lingering militarist mindset.

Instead, aided by the rapid evolution of new media and AI technologies, Japan’s right-wing forces are continuously upgrading their methods of manipulating public opinion and expanding the reach of historical revisionism, militarism and extreme nationalism. These narratives now spread more pervasively across online spaces, shaping public perceptions in increasingly sophisticated ways.

The lessons of history are still fresh. Japan’s right-wing forces manipulate online public opinion to create disturbances, drum up support for military buildup and war preparedness, and fuel efforts to break away from the postwar international order. Such moves only mislead and poison its own people, split social consensus, heighten strategic mutual suspicion in the region, and ultimately leave Japan discredited by the international community.

(Wu Xian is an associate researcher at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.)