Buckle up — this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast takes you straight into the blast zone of global geopolitics. On November 17, 2025, China’s making waves on every front: underground in the deserts of Xinjiang, over the skies of Japan, and deep in the contested waters of the South China Sea. We’re breaking down the biggest moves and most eyebrow-raising developments you need to know. 

First up — China’s secretive desert project at Lop Nur. Satellite imagery shows the People’s Liberation Army expanding its Cold War–era nuclear testing site with new tunnels, vertical shafts, and support facilities. As President Trump vows to restart U.S. nuclear testing “on an equal basis” with Beijing and Moscow, the world’s three biggest nuclear powers are once again circling each other like it’s 1962 all over again. Think of it as a high-stakes remix of the arms race — only this time, the nukes are smarter, faster, and pointed at more places. 

Meanwhile, Xi Jinping’s nuclear modernization drive is speeding ahead. China now has over 600 nuclear warheads, new missile silos, and the flashy DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missile — capable of hitting anywhere on Earth. It’s a clear message to Washington: Beijing’s not playing small ball anymore. 

But nukes aren’t the only story. Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, set off diplomatic fireworks after saying Tokyo might use force if China attacks Taiwan. Beijing didn’t take that well — dispatching Coast Guard ships into Japanese waters, flying drones near Yonaguni Island, and unleashing a social media tirade that included an actual decapitation threat from a Chinese diplomat. Yeah, it’s gotten that spicy. 

Add to that the South China Sea showdown, where the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines just wrapped up massive naval drills led by the USS Nimitz. China fired back with bomber patrols and a shiny new amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, fresh off its maiden sea trial. The PLA’s message? “We’re ready whenever.” 

On the tech and cyber front, it’s not getting any calmer. Anthropic uncovered that Chinese state-backed hackers used AI to run near-autonomous cyberattacks. Taiwan’s National Security Bureau also warned that Chinese AI chatbots like DeepSeek and Doubao are collecting user data and spreading propaganda disguised as conversation. 

From desert nukes to drone duels, from cyber spies to diplomatic shade — this episode has it all. RH 11.17.25 | China: Nukes, Drones, and Desert Drills brings you the sharpest, fastest, and most irreverent take on global power plays you’ll find anywhere.