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.
USNI News Western Pacific Pulse: Aug. 7, 2026
English Summary
The Western Pacific remains a highly volatile theater marked by escalating great power competition and increased military readiness among regional allies. Key evidence includes Russia conducting large-scale drills in the Sea of Japan, China/Russia joint movements through critical straits like Tsushima, and North Korea executing missile tests. Simultaneously, allied nations are bolstering interoperability through major multilateral exercises such as SEACAT 2026 and Pacific Partnership missions. These developments underscore a strategic imperative for sustained U.S.-led presence, enhanced regional defense cooperation, and robust deterrence against revisionist powers in the Indo-Pacific.
中文摘要
西太平洋仍是一個高度不穩定的戰區，其特點是大國競爭不斷升級，以及區域盟友間軍事準備度提高。關鍵證據包括俄羅斯在日本海域進行大規模演習、中國與俄羅斯穿越對馬海峽等重要海峽的聯合行動，以及朝鮮半島發射導彈測試。同時，盟國們也透過SEACAT 2026和太平洋夥伴關係（Pacific Partnership）等大型多邊演習來加強互操作性。這些發展凸顯了一個戰略必然性：即必須維持美國主導的長期駐軍存在、深化區域防禦合作，並對印太地區的修正主義大國建立強大的威懾力。
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