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.
China Still Has What America Needs
English Summary
The article argues that the U.S. must abandon the zero-sum view of its relationship with China, recognizing that Beijing maintains significant 'escalation dominance' over critical inputs like rare earths. Because of this dependence, the U.S. should pivot from tariff threats to pursuing economic diplomacy by securing multi-year, large-scale purchasing agreements for strategic goods and encouraging Chinese FDI. This approach allows Washington to build necessary strategic stockpiles and buy time to diversify supply chains without triggering a costly, immediate conflict. Ultimately, the U.S. must prioritize cooperation and trade stability to manage its strategic rivalry with China.
中文摘要
本文論述美國必須放棄其零和觀點，以看待美中關係，並承認北京在稀土等關鍵投入品上掌握著顯著的「升級主導權」。鑑於這種依賴性，美國應從關稅威脅轉向實施經濟外交，方法是簽訂多年期、大規模的戰略商品採購協議，並鼓勵中國的直接投資（FDI）。此一策略使華盛頓能夠建立必要的戰略儲備庫，並爭取時間來分散供應鏈，同時避免觸發成本高昂的即時衝突。最終而言，美國必須將合作與貿易穩定置於首位，以管理其與中國的戰略競爭。
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