Strap in for another high-energy breakdown on The Restricted Handling Podcast! In this episode, we dive deep into the global chessboard where China, Russia, the U.S., and a whole lineup of players are moving pieces in ways that could reshape the next decade. If you’re tracking international security, geopolitics, or just want to understand why the headlines are heating up, this one’s for you.
We kick off with Ukraine and the big question: can Donald Trump actually change Xi Jinping’s stance on Russia’s war? Volodymyr Zelenskiy thinks he might. But the reality is, China is already the lifeline keeping Moscow’s war machine from collapsing. Trade between Beijing and Moscow is booming, Russian banks are flooded with renminbi, and Chinese dual-use goods and tech are sustaining the fight. Without China, Russia would be in real trouble. But with China? Putin’s still swinging, even if it looks more like a desperate bar fight than a superpower flex.
Next up: the nukes. The U.S. Navy just test-launched four Trident II D5 Life Extension missiles off the Florida coast. These babies can fly 7,000+ miles and carry multiple warheads each. And wouldn’t you know it—this came right after China rolled out its new JL-3 submarine-launched missile during a massive parade in Beijing. Both sides are flexing, both sides are watching, and the nuclear chess match is very much alive.
Then it’s back to the Taiwan Strait, where China is pushing harder than ever. From Coast Guard incursions near Kinmen to fake videos about Penghu, to the brand-new Fujian aircraft carrier cruising through the Strait, Beijing is turning the screws. Taiwan’s scrambling jets daily, and the U.S. is upping its defense budget support to help Taipei hang tough. It’s the slow-burn tension that could ignite fast.
But China’s not just flexing militarily. It’s playing the long game with gold, trade, and global influence. Massive mining investments in Central Asia are part of Beijing’s strategy to hedge against the dollar and prepare for a sanctions-heavy future. Meanwhile, China’s new National Security White Paper lays out a “big security” concept—everything from climate and food to regime protection and ideological control. Oh, and Beijing just said it won’t seek new “developing country” perks at the WTO, a carefully timed move ahead of Xi’s upcoming summit with Trump.
And don’t miss the action in Latin America. The U.S. is leading its biggest-ever UNITAS naval drill with 26 partners, while China is wooing the region with defense forums, military colleges, and even hospital ship diplomacy. It’s influence vs. influence in America’s backyard.
This episode is packed: China, Russia, Taiwan, nukes, gold, and Latin America. It’s global power politics with just the right amount of spice. Hit play and get the intel.
