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.
How to Reach an AI Arms Control Deal With China
English Summary
The article argues that while a U.S.-China AI arms control deal is currently unlikely due to the strategic imperative of maintaining technological leadership, a path can be created by shifting the balance of power. Drawing on historical arms control precedents, the U.S. must take actions that convince China that it cannot catch up in AI, thereby making a deal more appealing than continued competition. Strategically, this requires Washington to close loopholes in export controls on critical U.S.-origin chips and simultaneously impose robust domestic regulations on its own frontier AI systems. This two-pronged approach increases the U.S. lead, enhances negotiation leverage, and provides a framework for future compliance measures.
中文摘要
本文論述，儘管由於維持技術領先地位的戰略必要性，美中在人工智慧（AI）領域的軍備控制協議目前難以達成，但仍可透過改變力量平衡來開創出路。文章援引歷史軍備控制先例，主張美國必須採取行動，讓中國相信其在AI領域無法追趕，從而使達成協議比持續競爭更具吸引力。從戰略角度來看，這要求華盛頓一方面收緊對關鍵美製晶片的出口管制漏洞，另一方面對自身的前沿AI系統實施嚴格的國內監管。這種雙管齊下的方法，不僅能提升美國的技術領先地位，也增強了談判籌碼，並為未來的合規措施提供了一個框架。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.
-
3.
China's economic strategy is characterized by a persistent 'economics of denial,' prioritizing massive state-directed investment in advanced technology over addressing weak domestic consumption. This approach is rooted in a flawed belief that controlling physical capital will automatically generate productivity and wage growth, ignoring the structural imbalance where domestic demand consistently falls short of supply. This overinvestment and underconsumption model is unsustainable. Consequently, Beijing's policies will continue to generate global deflationary pressures and escalating trade friction, necessitating a fundamental pivot toward consumption-led growth for long-term stability.
-
4.
The Blue Wave signals significant voter frustration with cost of living and inflation, giving Congress a mandate to prioritize affordability and cost-reduction measures. Economically, the rapid build-out of AI data centers is creating localized stress, driving up skilled labor wages and straining resources, while also facing constraints from power grids and potential local regulatory backlash. Policymakers must manage this 'sequencing issue'—addressing rising costs before full productivity gains from AI can materialize—and anticipate shifts in global data center infrastructure as the market matures.
-
5.
The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.