China’s making waves — literally. In this high-intensity episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we dive headfirst into the newest power plays from Beijing that are shaking the global order. From aircraft carriers to AI chips, from soybeans to spy trolls, this is your daily, unfiltered look at what’s going down in China right now.

The spotlight starts on the Fujian — China’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier. Xi Jinping just gave it the ceremonial thumbs-up in Hainan, and it’s not just another ship. This is an 80,000-ton symbol of China’s growing naval muscle, fitted with electromagnetic catapults and stealth-fighter-ready flight decks. We break down why it matters, how close it is to combat readiness, and what it means for U.S. forces in the Pacific. Spoiler: the balance of power at sea just tilted again.

Meanwhile, tensions near Taiwan and the South China Sea are hitting new highs. Dozens of Chinese fighter jets crossed the median line, and Taiwan’s air defenses are on full alert. At the same time, U.S., Japanese, and Australian forces are running joint drills near Scarborough Shoal — where Chinese and Philippine ships are playing bumper boats. The USS Nimitz is in the thick of it, and the Pentagon’s reportedly eyeing HIMARS deployments near the shoal. It’s a perfect storm of pride, pressure, and potential miscalculation.

But that’s not all — China’s information ops are back in the headlines. We unpack Beijing’s digital influence campaign in the Philippines, where fake accounts, embassy cash, and a “Ni Hao Manila” troll army are stirring the pot. Beijing denies everything (shocker), but the receipts are stacking up.

On the economic front, the Trump–Xi trade “truce” looks shakier than ever. Chinese exports to the U.S. just fell off a cliff, soybeans are still stuck under tariff, and Washington’s patience is running thin. We explain how Beijing’s strategic soybean diplomacy and rare-earth export controls are shaping global trade — and how Europe’s military buildup might depend on Chinese minerals.

And because no RH episode would be complete without a tech twist, we dig into the Nvidia ban bombshell. The White House just killed off chip sales to China, while Beijing is retaliating by banning foreign semiconductors from state-funded data centers. It’s a digital divorce in real time.

We close with a reality check — for all its space-age tech and green-energy hype, China’s still cracking down hard at home. Ten years after the “709” lawyer arrests, dissent remains dangerous.

It’s a wild mix of power, paranoia, and propaganda. Tune in for 20 minutes that’ll leave you smarter — and maybe just a little more concerned — about what Beijing’s up to next.