This week on The Restricted Handling Podcast, we’re firing up the geopolitical radar and zeroing in on China — because, wow, Beijing decided to spin the world stage like it’s a DJ booth at a techno rave. From rare-earth power plays to Taiwan’s brand-new “T-Dome” air defense shield, this episode breaks down the latest strategic chess moves shaping the Indo-Pacific and beyond — and it’s all happening at once. 

China’s throwing elbows in the global economy again, dropping a fresh set of rare-earth export restrictions just weeks before the Trump-Xi summit in South Korea. These aren’t just nerdy trade tweaks — we’re talking about the minerals that make your iPhone, your EV, and America’s next-gen fighter jets work. The move is perfectly timed, landing one day before the U.S.-China tariff truce expires. Translation? Beijing’s not negotiating; it’s power-posturing. We break down what that means for global tech, defense, and the delicate dance between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. 

But it’s not all trade — it’s also tactics. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te took center stage this week with a major announcement: the T-Dome, a multilayered, AI-powered missile defense system designed to keep China’s growing missile and aircraft threat in check. We dig into what this “Iron Dome 2.0” means for regional deterrence, how Taiwan’s boosting defense spending to 5% of GDP, and what Beijing’s next move might be as tensions skyrocket across the Taiwan Strait. 

Meanwhile, China’s backing up its rhetoric with serious muscle. We’re talking about carrier groups in the South China Sea, mock Taipei invasion training grounds, and new cyber and hybrid warfare campaigns targeting Taiwanese society. It’s part intimidation, part rehearsal — and all classic PLA strategy. But the U.S. and its allies aren’t sitting still. Japan’s mass-producing long-range missiles, American MQ-4C drones are patrolling the skies near China’s coastline, and Washington’s readying counterpunches in trade and tech. 

And just when you think it’s all about Asia, Russia crashes the party. We unpack Moscow and Beijing’s latest electronic warfare collab — jammers, anti-drone rifles, and Starlink disruptors straight out of a cyberpunk novel. But there’s a twist: China’s quietly cutting off key machine tools to Russia under U.S. pressure. Turns out “no limits” partnerships come with fine print. 

From rare-earths to radar, from trade wars to T-Dome, this episode is your all-access pass to the week’s biggest geopolitical power plays — served fast, smart, and with just enough attitude to keep it interesting. 

Tune in, stay sharp, and don’t blink — the world’s changing fast.