RH 5.11.26 | China: Trump-Xi Summit, Taiwan Tensions, AI, Trade, Rare Earths

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we dive into the high-stakes Trump-Xi summit in Beijing. President Donald Trump arrives in China from May 13 to May 15 to meet Xi Jinping for the first US presidential visit since 2017. We break down everything you need to know about what's at stake in the bilateral relationship. From trade and tariffs to Taiwan, Iran, artificial intelligence, and rare earths, this episode covers it all in a way that's serious but also easy to follow.  China enters the summit with a confidence it didn't have a decade ago. Xi Jinping has spent years building military strength, dominating critical mineral supply chains, and investing heavily in AI, semiconductors, robotics, and electric vehicles. The rare earths leverage alone gives Beijing a huge negotiating advantage, especially as the United States burns through advanced weapons and supply chains in Ukraine and the Middle East. We unpack what this means for the US and the global economy.  Taiwan remains front and center. The episode covers Chinese gray-zone military activity, PLA sorties, and the recent expulsion of the Chinese research vessel Tongji by Taiwan's coast guard. We discuss Beijing's efforts to block Taiwan from the WHO while Taipei plans to attend side events, and the broader implications for regional security. You'll hear how Asian middle powers are hedging, from tank production in Poland to cruise missile deals in Vietnam, as they try to navigate the uncertainty of US-China competition.  We also dive into trade and tech, from China's export rebound and record trade surplus to US industry concerns over Chinese EVs and connected vehicles. Lawmakers are pushing to prevent Chinese automakers from entering the US market, citing data security, industrial scale, and national competitiveness. Meanwhile, the AI discussion heats up with Beijing trying to close the gap on US technology while the US looks to maintain leadership through targeted dialogue and maximum export pressure.  Energy and the Iran war complicate the summit even further. China remains Iran's largest oil buyer and has stockpiled reserves to hedge against the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Meanwhile, Trump's "energy dominance" card is weaker than expected, making the summit a delicate balancing act between optics, leverage, and tangible deliverables.  We also cover symbolic and humanitarian developments. Families of two Americans imprisoned in China are hoping for a release appeal during the summit, and joint US-China anti-drug operations highlight areas of cooperation. China's internal security measures and espionage narratives provide a glimpse into the broader environment shaping Xi's approach.  Tune in for a comprehensive, fast-paced breakdown of the Trump-Xi summit, China's domestic and international strategies, Taiwan's defense posture, AI, rare earths, trade, and energy dynamics. We make it digestible, precise, and packed with the insights you need to understand what's really going on in Beijing this week.  👉 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.