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.
Japan Plans to Transform Military Capabilities with Drones, Boost Domestic Defense Industry
English Summary
Japan plans a significant military transformation centered on integrating drones and revitalizing its domestic defense industry to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. This overhaul is driven by heightened geopolitical concerns, specifically citing China as the greatest strategic challenge, alongside threats from North Korea and Russia, and lessons learned from Ukraine. Policy implications include raising defense spending toward 2% of GDP, revising key security documents, and deepening joint deterrence capabilities with the U.S. alliance while simultaneously engaging the public to secure domestic support for increased military presence.
中文摘要
日本計劃進行一場重大的軍事轉型，核心在於整合無人機技術並振興國內防衛產業，以降低對外國供應商的依賴。此次改革的驅動力源自地緣政治的高度擔憂，特別點名中國為最大的戰略挑戰，同時也關注來自北韓和俄羅斯的威脅，以及從烏克蘭戰爭中吸取的教訓。政策上的意涵包括提高國防開支至佔國內生產總值（GDP）的2%，修訂關鍵安全文件，深化與美國聯盟的聯合嚇阻能力，同時亦需透過公眾參與來爭取支持，以應對增加軍事部署帶來的國內民意基礎。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.
-
3.
China's economic strategy is characterized by a persistent 'economics of denial,' prioritizing massive state-directed investment in advanced technology over addressing weak domestic consumption. This approach is rooted in a flawed belief that controlling physical capital will automatically generate productivity and wage growth, ignoring the structural imbalance where domestic demand consistently falls short of supply. This overinvestment and underconsumption model is unsustainable. Consequently, Beijing's policies will continue to generate global deflationary pressures and escalating trade friction, necessitating a fundamental pivot toward consumption-led growth for long-term stability.
-
4.
The Blue Wave signals significant voter frustration with cost of living and inflation, giving Congress a mandate to prioritize affordability and cost-reduction measures. Economically, the rapid build-out of AI data centers is creating localized stress, driving up skilled labor wages and straining resources, while also facing constraints from power grids and potential local regulatory backlash. Policymakers must manage this 'sequencing issue'—addressing rising costs before full productivity gains from AI can materialize—and anticipate shifts in global data center infrastructure as the market matures.
-
5.
The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.