RH 2.18.26 | China Nuclear Test Claims, Taiwan Arms Talks & South China Sea Shadowing

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast  https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down one of the most strategically loaded 24-hour news cycles involving China in recent memory. If you follow US-China competition, Taiwan security, nuclear deterrence, or Indo-Pacific military posture, this is the episode you want in your feed.  We start with new details from the US government alleging that China conducted a covert nuclear explosive test on June 22, 2020, near Lop Nur. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Yeaw revealed seismic data captured by a monitoring station in Kazakhstan that US officials say was not consistent with an earthquake or mining blast. China denies it. Russia backs the denial. Meanwhile, New START officially expired on February 5, and President Trump has signaled that the US could resume nuclear testing "on an equal basis" if others are doing it. That is not small talk. We unpack what this means for nuclear arms control, deterrence stability, and great power competition.  From underground tests to open water, we shift to the South China Sea, where the PLA Southern Theater Command conducted combat readiness patrols while US, Philippine, and Australian forces carried out joint maritime exercises near Scarborough Shoal. Chinese warships shadowed the drills. The US also confirmed plans to deploy additional missile systems to the Philippines, building on previous Typhon and NMESIS deployments. If you are tracking the military balance in the first island chain, this is a major development.  We also cover President Trump's public confirmation that he discussed Taiwan arms sales directly with Xi Jinping. This follows reporting that a new arms package for Taiwan could exceed 11 billion dollars and include Patriot and NASAMS systems. That conversation touches directly on longstanding US policy commitments to Taiwan and raises important diplomatic questions.  Inside China, the PLA purge cycle continues. Senior figures, including Central Military Commission leaders, remain under investigation. At the same time, Pentagon assessments indicate that modernization toward the 2027 military capability goal has not slowed.  We round out the episode with a Greek espionage case involving a Hellenic Air Force officer accused of spying for China and a look at China's emerging AI video capabilities that could reshape information warfare and election interference.  Nuclear strategy, Taiwan security, South China Sea tensions, PLA leadership purges, and AI-driven influence operations. It is all here, delivered with energy but grounded in the facts.  👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast  https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com.