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.
The Myth of the Asian Century
English Summary
The article argues against the concept of an 'Asian Century,' asserting that Asia is not a cohesive geopolitical unit but rather a region marked by deep internal rivalries and contradictions. Key evidence cited includes Japan's aging population, India's uncertain trajectory, and ASEAN's divisions, suggesting no single Asian power can replicate U.S.-level global dominance. Policy implications suggest that international politics will remain highly fluid and competitive, forcing smaller states to prioritize balancing between major powers (like China and the U.S.) to maintain their autonomy.
中文摘要
本文反駁了「亞洲世紀」的概念，主張亞洲並非一個凝聚的地緣政治單元，而是一個充滿深刻內部競爭與矛盾的區域。文章引用的關鍵證據包括日本的人口老化、印度不確定的發展軌跡，以及東協（ASEAN）的分裂狀態，這些都表明沒有任何單一的亞洲大國能夠複製美國層級的全球主導地位。政策意涵指出，國際政治將持續高度流動和競爭，這迫使較小的國家必須優先在主要大國（如中國與美國）之間進行權衡平衡，以維持其自主性。
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