Strap in—this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast is a wild ride through the latest flashpoints shaping global security, and China is at the center of it all. We’ve got TikTok drama, Nvidia in the crosshairs, Beijing blasting water cannons, and North Korea flexing its missile muscles. Add in a cyber campaign that could have compromised millions of households, and you’ve got a geopolitical mix that feels more like a high-stakes thriller than a daily brief.

We kick off with the U.S.–China trade showdown in Madrid, where both sides somehow managed to reach a “framework” deal on TikTok. President Trump and Xi Jinping are set to finalize the deal on Friday, and it could mean TikTok survives in the U.S. under new ownership. But Beijing didn’t just smile and sign—China’s regulators simultaneously slapped Nvidia with an antitrust violation. Translation: TikTok may be safe, but the chip war is alive and kicking.

Next up: Scarborough Shoal. The China Coast Guard fired water cannons at Philippine ships, just days after Beijing declared the area a “nature reserve.” Environmental cover story or not, Manila isn’t buying it, and this gray-zone conflict is heating up fast. Meanwhile, China’s new aircraft carrier Fujian was spotted operating in contested waters, underscoring how Beijing is pairing its legal moves with naval muscle.

Taiwan’s got its own challenges—detaining a Chinese fishing boat that tried to slip past inspection and probing celebrities accused of amplifying CCP propaganda. Add in U.S. arms sales of heavyweight torpedoes and more Stinger missiles, and the island is clearly preparing for every scenario, from gray-zone harassment to full-blown invasion threats.

Over on the Korean Peninsula, Xi dropped the word “denuclearization” from his meeting with Kim Jong Un, a subtle but seismic shift. North Korea quickly showed off a solid-fuel engine test for its Hwasong-20 ICBM, while Russia announced plans for a massive bridge linking the two countries by 2026. All this as the U.S., South Korea, and Japan kick off the Freedom Edge exercise inside the First Island Chain.

And then there’s Salt Typhoon—China’s sweeping cyber campaign vacuuming up data across Australia and beyond. It’s no longer just espionage; it’s coercion at scale. Think disinformation, critical infrastructure hacks, and synchronized pressure during military drills.

From trade wars to cyber wars, this episode is packed with the key moves shaping the Indo-Pacific and beyond. If you want TikTok drama, South China Sea showdowns, and nuclear saber-rattling all in one place—this is it.

Tune in to The Restricted Handling Podcast for the week’s most important global security stories, delivered with energy, clarity, and a little edge.