Welcome back to The Restricted Handling Podcast, where global power politics meets sharp analysis and a little bit of edge. In today’s episode — “RH 12.16.25 | China: Lai Verdict Fallout, Sea Clash, Taiwan on Alert, Tech War Heats Up” — we dive deep into another high-intensity 24 hours across China’s political, military, and information fronts.

The show kicks off with breaking updates on Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old Hong Kong media mogul and pro-democracy icon, whose conviction under China’s National Security Law has sent shockwaves across the world. After nearly five years in solitary confinement, Lai’s guilty verdict is triggering a global backlash — and now, President Donald Trump himself has stepped in, confirming he personally asked Xi Jinping to consider Lai’s release during their October summit in South Korea. From London to Washington, outrage is spreading, as rights groups, diplomats, and even Lai’s exiled journalists rally to keep his story alive.

Next, we shift to the South China Sea, where things are heating up fast. Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at Filipino fishermen near Sabina Shoal, injuring three and cutting anchor lines — all inside the Philippines’ own exclusive economic zone. Manila is furious, Washington’s standing firm by its ally, and Beijing’s pretending it’s business as usual. But with new footage of the attack hitting global news and the U.S. publicly reaffirming its defense treaty, this isn’t just another maritime spat — it’s the kind of move that could redefine the region’s balance of power.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s military is quietly rewriting its playbook. Facing an increasingly aggressive People’s Liberation Army, Taipei has announced new “distributed control” orders — meaning local commanders can fight back immediately if China attacks. The goal? Stay alive long enough for reinforcements. It’s a major shift that shows just how real the threat of sudden conflict has become.

We also catch up on China’s expanding military muscle, with its carrier Liaoning wrapping up a weeklong exercise near Okinawa and its new supercarrier Fujian sailing out for sea trials. Add in Beijing’s angry tirade at Japan and its Ministry of State Security blaming “foreign spies” for radicalizing kids through anime and video games, and you’ve got a government both flexing and fretting.

Plus: Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Chinese TV companies for spying on users, Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway fights off a pro-China bot swarm after suing Beijing over COVID-19 damages, and the U.S. launches Pax Silica, a global alliance to lock down AI and semiconductor supply chains.

From the courtrooms of Hong Kong to the contested waters of the South China Sea, this episode unpacks the moves, motives, and mayhem shaping Beijing’s next act.

Tune in, subscribe, and stay informed — because when it comes to China, the game’s always on.