Plot summary
Fossor, the company that is supplying the Department of Defense with 80 F-40 fighter jets, says that in order to meet the budget and timeline, they need to sell 100 units. Conrad proposes that Taiwan buy the other 20. Elizabeth points out that China will see the move as unprovoked aggression. A spy for Fossor obtains a copy of the top secret memo analyzing the sale and leaks it to China. Minister Chen conveys China's outrage to Elizabeth. When it is learned that it was Fossor behind the leak, Conrad notifies the CEO that he is cancelling the F-40 contract.
Elizabeth and Russell brief a small group of senators on the corporate espionage, but the senators are beholden to the jobs created by the F-40 project and plan to vote for a spending bill rider that will reinstate the contract. The Department of Justice becomes aware of massive corruption by Fossor and arrests its CEO. Fossor agrees that the US only needs to buy 80 F-40s.
Credits
Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, Madam Secretary season 5. HTML formatting and reference markers removed.