RH 7.17.26 | China AI Ambitions, Election Fallout, Taiwan Pressure & Global Influence Push

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  China is moving fast to shape the future of global power, and in this episode of The Restricted Handling Daily Intel Brief, Ryan breaks down the latest developments from Beijing that show how competition with the US is expanding far beyond traditional military rivalry.  The biggest story today is China's push to become the global leader in artificial intelligence. President Xi Jinping used the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai to pitch a China-led vision for AI governance, technology access, and international cooperation. Beijing is building a coalition of countries around Chinese AI systems, training programs, and standards, creating a new front in the competition over who gets to define the rules of the next major technological revolution.  But the US-China relationship is facing new pressure after President Trump's accusations that China interfered in the 2020 US election. This episode examines what the released intelligence documents actually say, what China's activities may have involved, and why election security is becoming another major battlefield in the broader strategic competition between Washington and Beijing.  Ryan also breaks down the latest developments involving Taiwan, including Beijing's continued efforts to isolate Taipei diplomatically and Taiwan's push to expand its drone and unmanned systems capabilities. From the South China Sea to the Taiwan Strait, China is continuing to combine military pressure, diplomatic influence, and information operations to shape the regional environment.  The episode also explores China's growing use of economic leverage and political messaging. Beijing's reaction to Britain's nationalization of British Steel highlights the growing tension over whether strategic industries should be treated as normal businesses or national security assets. Meanwhile, new US visa restrictions targeting foreign students, journalists, and Chinese media personnel are adding another layer of friction between the two countries.  We also take a look at China's increasingly aggressive information campaigns, including a controversial AI-generated video targeting the Philippines over the South China Sea dispute. It is another example of how Beijing is blending traditional propaganda techniques with new technology to influence public perception and shape narratives around regional conflicts.  From artificial intelligence and cyber competition to Taiwan, economic security, diplomacy, and influence operations, this episode breaks down the major moves coming out of China and explains why they matter for the future of global security.  The Restricted Handling Daily Intel Brief delivers the geopolitical context behind the headlines, helping you understand not just what happened, but why it matters and what comes next.  👉 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.