RH 10.7.25 | China: Stealth Jets, Spy Fronts, and South Sea Standoffs

Strap in for a high-octane ride through the Indo-Pacific as The Restricted Handling Podcast takes you deep inside China’s latest power plays—on land, at sea, in the air, and across the cyber domain. In this episode, we’re breaking down Beijing’s bold reveal of its J-35 stealth fighter production line, the secretive intelligence front companies feeding China’s cyber warfare machine, and the rising tension stretching from the Taiwan Strait to the South China Sea.

We start with China’s stunning move to throw open the hangar doors at Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, giving the world its first look at the J-35 and J-35A—fifth-generation stealth jets designed to challenge America’s F-35 dominance. Think of it as Beijing’s “Top Gun moment,” but with more robotic arms and less Kenny Loggins. This wasn’t just a PR stunt; it was a message. China’s ready to mass-produce stealth fighters, deploy them from its new Fujian carrier, and flex its growing technological muscle.

But the story doesn’t stop at shiny new aircraft. We dive into the shadowy world of BIETA—the Beijing Institute of Electronics Technology and Application—recently outed as a front for China’s Ministry of State Security. BIETA and its partner CIII develop cyber tools, penetration-testing software, and covert communication platforms for the MSS. In short, they’re the quiet architects behind Beijing’s digital spy empire, turning academic research into cyber arsenals.

Meanwhile, China’s global assertiveness is creating turbulence everywhere. Premier Li Qiang is jetting off to Pyongyang to celebrate with Kim Jong Un and Dmitry Medvedev, as Beijing, Moscow, and North Korea tighten their political and military ties. The U.S., Japan, and the Philippines aren’t sitting idle—Washington just reaffirmed its 74-year-old defense treaty with Manila, promising to defend Philippine vessels “anywhere in the South China Sea.”

We also unpack Taiwan’s latest confrontations—from chasing off Chinese ships near Pratas Island to President Lai Ching-te daring Xi Jinping to drop the threat of invasion. And if that wasn’t enough action, we’ve got Chinese jets buzzing Canadian patrol aircraft, illegal fishing boats playing tag with the Korean Coast Guard, and Beijing throwing diplomatic elbows at the European Union over Taiwan’s status.

This episode has it all: stealth jets, spy fronts, air standoffs, and cyber espionage. It’s equal parts Mission: Impossible and House of Cards, with a dash of Cold War déjà vu. If you want to know where the next flashpoint could ignite, you’ll find it right here.

Tune in now—because when China starts opening its hangars and flexing its networks, the whole world should be paying attention.