The article outlines how a successful modern foreign policy career requires blending traditional diplomatic expertise with private sector acumen. Juster's career trajectory—from international law to high-stakes diplomacy (e.g., the Gulf War) and subsequently to the technology sector—demonstrates this synthesis. Key evidence includes his work managing complex negotiations under duress and his involvement in co-founding the U.S.-India High Technology Group. The implication for policy is that effective geopolitical strategy must actively integrate private sector knowledge and technological considerations to manage modern economic and security challenges.
Forward And Seaward Archipelagic Defence As A Military Strategy For The Philippines
English Summary
The paper argues that the Philippines’ shift to a Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) marks a major strategic move from broad modernization toward a geography-centered military posture focused on dispersed basing, longer-range strike, and denial operations. It reasons that worsening threat perceptions of China, especially in maritime border areas and near Taiwan, are driving this transition, but also increasing risks of sharper confrontation and security-dilemma dynamics. The analysis highlights practical constraints, including inter-service rivalry, political vulnerability to Chinese influence operations, and policy ambiguity over foreign basing access, weapons deployments, and partner force integration. Strategically, it suggests Manila should codify clearer baseline defense policies, integrate alliances more explicitly, and refine CADC’s theory of victory so deterrence objectives translate into concrete theater-level outcomes rather than capability acquisition alone.
中文摘要
該論文主張，菲律賓轉向「全面群島防衛概念」（CADC），標誌其戰略重心由廣泛現代化，轉為以地理條件為核心的軍事態勢，聚焦分散基地部署、較長程打擊能力與拒止作戰。文中指出，對中國威脅感知的惡化——尤其在海上邊界地區與臺灣周邊——正推動此一轉型，但同時也提高了更尖銳對抗與安全困境動態的風險。分析並凸顯多項實務限制，包括軍種間競爭、政治上易受中國影響力作戰滲透，以及在外國基地使用權、武器部署與夥伴部隊整合等政策上的模糊性。就戰略層面而言，作者建議馬尼拉應將更清晰的基線防衛政策予以制度化、更明確地整合同盟關係，並精煉CADC的「勝利理論」，使嚇阻目標能轉化為具體的戰區層級成果，而非僅止於能力建置。
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The analysis cautions that the upcoming Trump-Xi summit must not result in short-term strategic concessions for the US, which risks undermining long-term stability. China is rapidly consolidating global power, leveraging US policy shifts and increasing its assertiveness across the Indo-Pacific and in technology. Strategically, the US must prioritize addressing the immediate crisis in Iran, where China holds significant leverage, and must also focus on joint cooperation on AI. Ultimately, the US must resist political impulses and pursue a robust strategy to counter China's growing challenge to global dominance.
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4.Rare earths are on Trump’s agenda in China. But US electronic waste offers an untapped source at home (Chatham House)
While China maintains critical dominance over the global rare earth processing supply chain, the US possesses a substantial, untapped domestic resource: electronic waste (e-waste). Estimates suggest that annual US e-waste contains enough rare earth magnets to meet a significant portion of projected domestic demand, far exceeding current domestic mining capacity. However, this potential is hampered by a lack of uniform federal recycling laws and specialized collection infrastructure, leading to valuable materials leaking out of the economy. To achieve mineral security, the US must shift its strategy from solely developing new mines to establishing a robust circular economy model. This requires federal policy intervention, investment in advanced separation technologies, and incentivizing product design for easy disassembly.
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The CFR analysis posits that the Trump-Xi summit is a critical juncture with the potential to fundamentally reshape global trade and technology competition. Key discussions center on nuanced economic strategies, such as China's financial maneuvering (e.g., dollar hoarding) and the necessity for allied manufacturing to counter China's technological dominance in areas like AI and robotics. Policymakers must therefore prepare for significant shifts in the bilateral relationship, emphasizing the need to strengthen allied supply chains and technological resilience to mitigate geopolitical risks.