The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Why Beijing isn’t taking the bait with Trump
English Summary
Beijing is not genuinely swayed by President Trump’s public gestures or attempts to frame the relationship as one of "constructive strategic stability." While Trump has softened rhetoric and reduced military pressure on China, Beijing remains guarded, rejecting frameworks like the "G2" and signaling its focus on long-term competition. The analysis argues that China's strategic calculus is independent of US political cycles, viewing American engagement as purely transactional. Therefore, policymakers must recognize that sustained competitive policies and long-term strategic planning are necessary, as Beijing is focused on outcompeting the United States rather than achieving short-term breakthroughs.
中文摘要
北京並未真正受美國總統川普公開姿態或試圖將雙邊關係定調為「建設性戰略穩定」的影響。儘管川普緩和了措辭並減輕了對中國的軍事壓力，但北京仍保持警惕，拒絕「G2」等框架，並表明其關注點是長期的競爭。本分析指出，中國的戰略考量獨立於美國的政治週期，將美方的參與視為純粹的交易性行為。因此，政策制定者必須認識到，由於北京的重點是超越美國而非追求短期突破，持續的競爭性政策和長期的戰略規劃是必要的。
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