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.
Confrontation Over Taiwan
English Summary
China's escalating 'grey zone' pressure and military buildup around Taiwan create a severe security dilemma, driven by its stated goal of reunification. The stakes are critically high, as Taiwan's role as the world's leading semiconductor producer means any conflict would cause catastrophic global economic disruption. Consequently, U.S. policy is shifting from strategic ambiguity toward explicit defense commitments, while allies like Japan are increasing defense spending. This escalating confrontation necessitates a robust, coordinated policy response among the U.S. and its partners to manage the heightened military and economic risks in the region.
中文摘要
中國周邊台灣的『灰色地帶』壓力升級和軍事積累，因其宣稱的統一目標，造成了嚴重的安全困境。由於台灣作為全球領先的半導體生產國，其地位至關重要，任何衝突都將引發災難性的全球經濟衝擊。因此，美國政策正從戰略模糊轉向明確的防禦承諾，而日本等盟國也正在增加國防開支。這種不斷升級的對抗局勢，要求美國及其夥伴之間必須採取強大、協調的政策應對，以管理該地區日益加劇的軍事和經濟風險。
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