The Western Pacific remains a highly active theater defined by sustained U.S.-led military exercises and escalating great power competition. Key evidence includes continuous joint operations, such as RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii and the deployment of CSGs into the South China Sea, juxtaposed with increased naval activity from both China (PLAN task groups) and Russia near Japan's critical straits. These movements underscore a strategic push by non-allied powers to assert presence and challenge regional norms. Policy implications dictate that allied nations must maintain robust multilateral cooperation and interoperability to safeguard freedom of navigation and manage escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
Europe Programme
English Summary
Chatham House’s Europe Programme argues that Europe needs practical, implementation-focused policy work to navigate a period of geopolitical and political disruption. Its reasoning is that combining EU, NATO, and country-level expertise can turn broad strategic goals into actionable recommendations, especially across its 2024–2027 priorities: the EU’s future, European security, and Europe’s global role. The programme also treats election outcomes and growing political fragmentation as cross-cutting forces that shape progress in all three areas. For policymakers, the implication is to pursue integrated strategies that link institutional reform, security planning, and external action while stress-testing decisions against domestic political volatility across Europe.
中文摘要
查塔姆研究所(Chatham House)歐洲計畫主張,歐洲在地緣政治與政治動盪加劇的時期,需要更務實、以執行為導向的政策工作。其論點在於,整合歐盟、北約與各國層級的專業能力,可將宏觀戰略目標轉化為可操作的政策建議,尤其是在其 2024–2027 年三項重點:歐盟的未來、歐洲安全,以及歐洲的全球角色。該計畫亦將選舉結果與日益嚴重的政治碎片化視為跨領域因素,認為其會共同塑造上述三大領域的進展。對決策者而言,意涵是應推動整合性策略,將制度改革、安全規劃與對外行動連結起來,並在全歐洲國內政治波動的情境下,持續對政策決策進行壓力測試。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that the post-Cold War era of U.S. unipolarity, established by the perceived invincibility demonstrated during the Gulf War, has ended. This decline is driven by globalization and technological diffusion, which have democratized advanced military capabilities, allowing regional actors to challenge major powers. Consequently, policymakers must prepare for a more volatile international order marked by frequent crises, heightened costs for securing global trade chokepoints, and reduced predictability from American power. The new rules dictate that great powers can no longer effortlessly impose their will through force.
-
3.
Despite recent trade setbacks, the U.S. retains fundamental structural economic leverage over China, particularly in high-tech sectors and intermediate goods. While Beijing can temporarily weaponize specific resources like rare earths, these chokepoints are vulnerable to diversification efforts by the West. The article argues that the most effective strategy is not unilateral action but coordinated multilateral pressure from U.S. allies across Asia and Europe. Washington must therefore coordinate its economic statecraft with partners to maximize damage to China’s export-dependent model.
-
4.
The author argues that the new 'Section 301' tariffs, ostensibly targeting forced labor, are not a genuine human rights measure but rather an attempt to re-establish a broad, punitive tariff wall. Key evidence supporting this claim includes the rushed nature of the investigation (98 pages for 60 economies), the lack of specific economic harm analysis, and the imposition of disproportionately high tariffs that far exceed any proportional response. Strategically, the use of human rights language to generate revenue sets a dangerous precedent, potentially allowing future administrations to bypass legislative processes and misuse trade law. The article concludes by urging Congress to reform these laws before they cause further damage to international trade frameworks.
-
5.U.S. Navy Orders Low-cost Missiles to Expand Fleet, Allied Long-Range Maritime Strike Capabilities (USNI)
The U.S. Navy is prioritizing the procurement of low-cost, long-range cruise missiles through programs like CHAOS and CAMS to significantly expand strike capabilities for both its own fleet and allied partners. This strategic shift provides affordable precision munitions capable of striking targets up to 1,000 nautical miles, addressing critical stockpiles depleted by recent conflicts. By developing these systems, the U.S. aims to overcome procurement delays faced by allies (such as Japan and Taiwan) who rely on older missile designs. Ultimately, this initiative strengthens allied deterrence and bolsters long-range maritime strike capabilities necessary for potential conflict with China.