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 Emerging Digital Battleground: The Critical Factors That Produce Advantage in the U.S.-China Competition for Digital Networks
English Summary
The report argues that the U.S.-China rivalry is centered on gaining influence over global digital networks (AI, 5G, space), which will define 21st-century power. China's primary competitive advantage is its ability to bundle integrated, subsidized, turnkey packages that combine hardware, software, financing, and diplomatic support. Success in this domain is governed by five key factors: economic feasibility, ecosystem advantages (bundling), political alignment, technology quality, and local digital governance. Policymakers must recognize that countering China's comprehensive approach requires a strategic focus on these systemic factors rather than isolated technology components.
中文摘要
該報告論述，美中競爭的核心在於爭奪對全球數位網絡（如AI、5G、太空）的影響力，而這將決定21世紀的權力格局。中國的主要競爭優勢在於其能夠整合、補貼，並提供一站式（turnkey）的方案包，這些方案包結合了硬體、軟體、融資和外交支持。在這個領域的成功，受五個關鍵因素的制約：經濟可行性、生態系統優勢（整合性）、政治協調、技術品質，以及本地數位治理。政策制定者必須認識到，要應對中國的全面性方法，需要將戰略焦點放在這些系統性因素上，而非孤立的技術組件。
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