In this high-voltage episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we’re diving deep into one of the wildest 24-hour news cycles in global geopolitics. Buckle up, because China’s playing every card in the deck—from minerals to missiles, from AI propaganda to maritime chaos—and the rest of the world is scrambling to keep up. We start with the rare-earth showdown that’s got Washington, Brussels, and just about every global manufacturer sweating bullets. Beijing’s sweeping new export controls on critical minerals—used in everything from smartphones to stealth fighters—are shaking the foundations of the global supply chain. With President Trump threatening 100% tariffs on all Chinese imports, we’re watching the world’s two biggest economies circle the ring again, each ready to land a haymaker. You’ll hear how the Pentagon’s rushing to mine rare earths at home, Europe’s calling the move a “critical concern,” and China’s claiming it’s just “protecting national security.” Yeah—sure it is. Next, we take to the high seas where the South China Sea is boiling—literally. Chinese coast guard ships rammed and blasted Philippine vessels with water cannons near Thitu Island, sparking international outrage. The U.S. fired back with a firm reminder that the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines still stands. It’s like Beijing’s playing Battleship, but this time, Washington’s on speed dial. Then it’s on to the digital front lines—because while China’s spraying water in the South China Sea, it’s spraying data in cyberspace. Taiwan’s reporting 2.8 million cyberattacks per day, with AI-generated disinformation campaigns flooding social media. Beijing’s also putting bounties on Taiwanese psychological operations officers, proving its “cognitive warfare” isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the new front in modern conflict. We also cover China’s “all about production” playbook, Xi Jinping’s upcoming five-year plan that doubles down on industrial dominance, and a deflation-hit economy that’s still punching above its weight. From luxury markets bouncing back (LVMH’s booming again) to corruption crackdowns that make “Succession” look tame, the contradictions in China’s system are on full display. And because no spy story’s complete without an American twist, we unpack the State Department scandal rocking Washington—complete with leaked documents, secret dinners, and Chinese handlers in Virginia restaurants. If you like your geopolitics with adrenaline, sharp humor, and a dash of classified chaos, this is the episode for you. Rare earths, ramming ships, rogue hackers—this is China’s week, and the world’s feeling it. 

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