Strap in — today’s episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast is a full-throttle ride through China’s latest power plays, tech breakthroughs, and international flare-ups. From billion-dollar weapons deals to billion-dollar lawsuits, Beijing’s making moves on every front — and we’re breaking it all down with the energy and insight you’ve come to expect.

First up, the Trump administration’s $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan is officially moving forward, sending shockwaves through Beijing and the Taiwan Strait. The package includes HIMARS rocket launchers, howitzers, and a wall of Javelin missiles that would make any invading force think twice. China’s furious response set the stage for an even bigger flex — the Fujian, its newest aircraft carrier, cruised through the Taiwan Strait with the whole world watching. We’ve got the latest details and analysis on what that move really means, and how Taiwan, Japan, and the U.S. are responding.

Speaking of hardware, China’s secret “Manhattan Project” for semiconductors just hit a major milestone. Engineers in Shenzhen have built a working prototype of an EUV lithography machine — the holy grail of chipmaking tech that the West has spent years trying to keep out of Beijing’s hands. We break down how Huawei and a network of ex-ASML engineers pulled it off, why it matters for the global AI race, and how it could upend the balance of power in tech for decades to come.

But Beijing’s ambitions don’t stop at microchips. In cyberspace, Chinese hackers are running wild again — this time hijacking European government networks to launch espionage campaigns across Africa and Southeast Asia. We’ll unpack how the “Ink Dragon” group is using ShadowPad malware and Outlook’s cloud features to hide in plain sight. And if that’s not enough intrigue, the Ministry of State Security is now warning that foreign spies are brainwashing China’s youth through anime and video games. Yes, seriously.

We’ll also cover China’s courtroom showdown with Missouri, where Beijing is suing the U.S. state for a staggering $50 billion in pandemic-related “defamation.” It’s legal theater on a geopolitical scale — and it could redefine how far lawfare goes between global powers. Add in ZTE’s latest corruption probe, Germany’s car industry meltdown in China, and the quiet diplomacy playing out between Beijing and New Delhi, and you’ve got one packed update.

If you want sharp, entertaining, detailed analysis on China’s military, cyber, and tech fronts — this is the episode. Subscribe, share, and stay ahead of the game with The Restricted Handling Podcast.