The White House (via OMB) strongly protests Congressional efforts within the FY 2027 NDAA to prohibit the purchase of warships from foreign shipyards. The Administration argues that these restrictions undermine national security by limiting flexibility and hindering its strategy of leveraging allied yards, such as in the 'Finland model,' to drive investment into U.S. shipbuilding capacity. This signals a significant policy shift toward integrating international partners into advanced naval construction, suggesting the Pentagon is prepared to bypass traditional domestic build requirements for future combat vessels.
How Open-Source, Real-Time Data Can Defeat China at the Edge of Its Influence
English Summary
The article argues that the U.S. must counter China's expanding localized global influence by leveraging its technological and informational strengths. The core strategy involves harnessing open-source, real-time data (OSINT) to empower local actors, improve rapid interagency coordination, and provide evidence for counter-messaging. Policy recommendations emphasize amplifying authentic local voices, utilizing technology to monitor complex networks (like supply chains), and preparing for extreme economic contingencies, such as targeted sanctions or supply chain decoupling, to reassert U.S. leadership.
中文摘要
本文主張,美國必須透過發揮其技術和資訊優勢,來應對中國不斷擴張的在地化全球影響力。核心策略包括利用開源情報(OSINT)來賦能在地行動者、提升跨機構的快速協調能力,並提供反制訊息的證據基礎。政策建議著重於擴大真實的在地聲音、利用技術監測複雜網絡(例如供應鏈),以及為極端經濟應變(如定向制裁或供應鏈脫鉤)做好準備,從而重申美國的領導地位。
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