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.

Buckle up — today’s episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast is a ride through one of the most chaotic 24 hours yet in the Russia-Ukraine saga. From Putin’s latest saber-rattling to Europe’s high-stakes money fight, we’re unpacking every explosive update with the perfect mix of energy, insight, and attitude.

Vladimir Putin just took the stage in Moscow and went full “old-school empire.” He’s reaffirming his war goals — total domination of Ukraine — and promising to “liberate historical lands.” His defense minister backed it up with battlefield bragging that sounds more like wishful thinking than victory math. We’re breaking down what that means for the front lines, why Russia’s war strategy looks more 1916 than 2025, and how their hypersonic weapons flex might be more bluster than breakthrough.

Meanwhile in Brussels, the European Union is in a political knife fight over what to do with more than €210 billion in frozen Russian assets. Should they use Putin’s piggy bank to bankroll Ukraine’s survival? Germany, France, and Poland say yes — “money today or blood tomorrow.” But Belgium’s still holding the cards, fearing it’ll be stuck with Moscow’s legal revenge bill. We’ve got the full story on the “reparations loan” plan, the behind-the-scenes pressure campaign, and how the Kremlin’s cyber thugs are literally trying to intimidate Belgian officials into backing off.

It doesn’t stop there. Russia’s hybrid war machine is buzzing across Europe — from armed “shadow fleet” tankers in the Baltic to spy devices on passenger ferries in France. And on top of that, GRU hackers are back at it, sneaking into Western infrastructure with the digital equivalent of a crowbar and a fake ID. If you thought cyberwarfare was just keyboard drama, think again — this one’s already hitting power grids and transport systems.

Ukraine isn’t standing still either. Kyiv’s long-range drone strikes have smashed oil refineries, depots, and even a tanker deep inside Russian territory. We’ll tell you how Ukraine’s new Flamingo cruise missile — with its 3,000-kilometer range and jet-black finish — is giving Moscow heartburn and how Ukraine’s defense industry is quietly becoming a tech powerhouse.

We’ll also dive into the Miami peace talks (yes, Miami), where Trump’s envoys and Putin’s man are testing how far this “90% done” deal can go before someone flips the table.

From trench warfare to cyber sabotage, oil fires to diplomacy in paradise — this episode has it all.

Step beyond the headlines and official spin to uncover the deeper realities inside Russia and China’s economies. We take a close look at how Moscow and Beijing project power abroad while grappling with fragile foundations at home, from Russia’s unsustainable wartime spending to China’s faltering growth and anxious workforce. We cut through state narratives to reveal the costs of these economies, costs borne not by leaders, but by ordinary citizens facing higher prices and shrinking opportunities. With insights from data, policy shifts, and on-the-ground reports, we trace how these two authoritarian powers strain to maintain control, and how their choices reverberate across global markets, diplomacy, and the lives of millions.