Strap in for this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast as we dive headfirst into the latest wave of China headlines shaking up the Indo-Pacific and beyond. From missile stockpiles and drone squadrons to Arctic ambitions and AI showdowns, this one’s packed tighter than a PLA missile silo. 

We kick things off with the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, which just boosted its arsenal to a staggering 3,500 missiles, including the hypersonic DF-17 and the infamous DF-26 “Guam Express.” This isn’t just saber-rattling—it’s hard evidence that Beijing is building the firepower to threaten Taiwan, U.S. forces, and anyone else standing in the way. 

Speaking of Taiwan, the PLA keeps up its gray-zone tactics, buzzing the island with 33 aircraft and 11 ships in just 24 hours. That’s on top of hundreds already logged this month. It’s pressure by attrition, designed to wear Taipei down while Beijing shrugs it off as “routine.” 

The U.S. isn’t watching from the sidelines. We break down the activation of the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea, bringing MQ-9 Reaper drones permanently into the region. With range to cover North Korea, Taiwan, and even the Chinese coast, these drones add persistence, strike punch, and a whole lot of “we’re not leaving” energy. 

We also talk about India’s new undersea muscle, flexing its submarine rescue capabilities in multinational drills in the South China Sea. The debut of the INS Nistar in live dockings with foreign subs is more than a tech demo—it’s a clear message that India is embedding itself deeper into regional security. 

But that’s not all. We’ve got China running nuclear detonation simulations in the lab, testing “triple-strike” concepts for maximum underground bunker-busting effect. We’ve got Beijing claiming its first manned Arctic submersible dive, pushing “near-Arctic state” rhetoric while hunting resources and strategic sea routes. And of course, we’re covering the tech war, where iFLYTEK and Zhipu AI keep sprinting forward despite U.S. export controls, rolling out large language models and proving that sanctions may slow but won’t stop China’s AI machine. 

Meanwhile, the U.S. Replicator drone project is hitting potholes—delays, bugs, and costs that kill the “cheap, smart, small” dream—just as China’s military modernization keeps accelerating across land, sea, air, space, and cyber. 

It’s missiles, drones, AI, and Arctic ice—all in one episode. If you want to stay ahead of the geopolitical curve with a mix of sharp intel and a little punchy commentary, this is the one to catch.