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 Taiwan’s Development Work in the Caribbean Can Counteract Chinese Influence
English Summary
Taiwan's development assistance in the Caribbean serves a dual purpose: addressing critical regional vulnerabilities—such as climate change and economic instability—while strategically counteracting growing Chinese influence. The analysis argues that Taiwan's greatest impact lies not in large-scale capital investment, but in targeted technical cooperation focused on building local capacity and resilience. Key areas for intervention include strengthening agricultural value chains from production to markets and promoting digital transformation for public services. By providing reliable, hands-on support that complements larger donors, Taiwan can help stabilize democratic partners and reinforce the region's alignment with Western interests.
中文摘要
台灣對加勒比地區的發展援助具有雙重目的：一方面是應對氣候變遷和經濟不穩定等關鍵區域脆弱性；另一方面則是策略性地抵制日益增長的中國影響力。本分析指出，台灣最大的影響力並非來自大規模資本投資，而是專注於建立在地能力與韌性的目標性技術合作。主要的介入領域包括強化從生產到市場的農業價值鏈，以及推動公共服務的數位轉型。透過提供可靠、實務的支援，彌補大型捐助者的不足，台灣能夠協助穩定民主夥伴國，並鞏固該地區與西方利益的一致性。
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