Ryan & Glenn | U.S. vs China in Space: Who Wins? Why the Next War Could be in Low Earth Orbit

Today's it's international security in SPACE! 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ Get the daily intelligence brief covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, space security, sanctions, and great power competition. Space is no longer science fiction. It's the next strategic battleground. In this episode of the Restricted Handling Podcast, Ryan Fugit and Glenn Corn sit down with Clayton Swope, Deputy Director of the Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow at CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies). Clayton is one of Washington's leading experts on military space power, space deterrence, launch competition, and U.S.–China rivalry in orbit. This conversation goes far beyond UFO headlines and into the real strategic questions: • Are we prepared for conflict in space? • How vulnerable is GPS? • What happens if satellites start colliding during a crisis? • Can the U.S. outpace China in lunar competition? • What role does Space Force actually play? 🎙️ In this episode, we cover: • Why GPS is America's biggest space vulnerability • The real state of U.S. vs. China space competition • Russia's declining relevance in space • Satellite congestion and collision risks • Space-based missile defense and Golden Dome • The strategic importance of the Moon • Rare earth resources and lunar mining risks • Commercial launch dominance (SpaceX, Blue Origin) • Why research & development funding matters more than ever • Whether Space Force is structured for the future Clayton explains how launch, satellite communications, and navigation systems quietly underpin modern warfare — and what happens if those systems fail. From reusable rockets to orbital jamming to lunar competition, this episode reframes space not as exploration — but as infrastructure and deterrence. If you think space is distant, abstract, or futuristic — this conversation will change your mind. ⏱ TIMELINE / CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction & Clayton's Background 04:30 Space as a Military Domain 10:00 Starlink, Ukraine & Space Warfare 18:00 GPS Vulnerabilities 23:00 Space Congestion & Collision Risks 30:00 U.S. vs China Launch Competition 37:00 The Moon & Strategic Resources 44:00 Space Force & Future Doctrine 52:00 Rapid Fire Questions HOW TO FIND GLENN CORN Glenn Corn is a former CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer and multiple-time Chief of Station. Institute of World Politics – Faculty Profile https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/ Great South Bay Consulting https://greatsouthbayinc.com/ ABOUT OUR GUEST – CLAYTON SWOPE Clayton Swope is Deputy Director of the Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow for Defense & Security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). CSIS Profile: https://www.csis.org/people/clayton-swope Follow CSIS Aerospace Security Project: https://www.csis.org/programs/aerospace-security-project