The China-Russia partnership is a highly consequential geopolitical alignment driven by a shared goal of countering U.S. hegemony and reshaping the international order into a multipolar system. While not a formal alliance, this relationship is strengthened by Russia's increasing economic reliance on China following Western sanctions, which allows Beijing to leverage its influence. Policymakers should note that while the partnership projects deep solidarity (as seen in high-level summits), it remains complex and limited by mutual mistrust and competing strategic interests. This enduring alignment poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests and requires continued diplomatic vigilance.
The FISA Section 702 Lapse “Going Dark” Myth
English Summary
The article argues that the fear surrounding a temporary lapse of FISA Section 702—the 'going dark' myth—is largely unfounded. Intelligence collection can continue through multiple alternative authorities, including Executive Order 12333, traditional Title I warrants, and existing FISC certifications, even if the statute lapses. Furthermore, the Attorney General retains emergency surveillance powers, ensuring continuity of operations. While the lapse wouldn't immediately halt intelligence gathering, the primary policy focus must remain on reforming Section 702 to mandate probable cause before the FBI searches Americans' digital data.
中文摘要
本文論述,圍繞《法案》第702條款(FISA Section 702)暫時失效所引發的「資訊黑洞」(going dark)恐懼,在很大程度上是毫無根據的。即使該法規失效,情報蒐集仍可透過多種替代權限持續進行,包括行政命令12333號(Executive Order 12333)、傳統的《法典》第一篇搜查令(Title I warrants),以及現有的FISC認證。此外,司法部總檢察長仍保留緊急監控權力,確保了運營的連續性。雖然法規失效不會立即停止情報收集,但主要的政策重點必須仍放在改革第702條款,以要求在FBI搜尋美國公民數位資料前,必須具備合理懷疑理由(probable cause)。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that the U.S., through recent policy signals—such as questioning NATO's value or sympathizing with great-power territorial claims—is inadvertently adopting the core tenets of non-alignment, prioritizing transactional national interests over binding alliances. Historically, while non-alignment allowed developing nations to gain benefits without commitment, the analysis notes that this approach lacks the deep trust and shared obligations necessary for robust security structures. The implication is critical: by undermining established alliances, the U.S. risks losing its greatest strategic asset—the network of mutual commitments—as allies actively seek alternative bilateral or regional defense pacts.
-
3.
The roundtable established that implementing generational bans represents a powerful, long-term strategy for tackling deeply entrenched public health crises like tobacco use. Using the UK’s permanent ban on selling cigarettes to those born after 2009 as key evidence, experts analyzed how such policies fundamentally alter market dynamics and consumer behavior over time. These lessons suggest that other nations facing persistent addiction challenges should consider adopting similar age-gating or generational restrictions to accelerate decline and set a precedent for future public health policy interventions.
-
4.
The CSIS analysis finds that the U.S. grid's regulatory framework for connecting large loads is severely fragmented and unprepared for the massive electricity demands posed by AI data centers. FERC has mandated significant reforms across six regional operators, requiring them to modernize interconnection studies, prevent cost-shifting, and establish clear tariffs for co-located generation. Evidence shows that most operators fall far short of these new standards, necessitating complex, multi-year policy adjustments rather than simple compliance. Policymakers must coordinate federal regulation (FERC) with state utilities to accelerate grid modernization, ensuring energy affordability while maintaining technological competitiveness.
-
5.
The Brookings report argues that while modern economies are fundamentally regional in nature, effective governance requires states to align their authority and resources with empowered local cross-sector networks. Current state economic development systems are often fragmented and ill-equipped to manage structural shifts like AI or the energy transition. To modernize, policymakers must adopt a structured 'state-regional' model where states define strategic clusters and allocate capital, while regions coordinate execution using deep local knowledge. This approach has proven successful in catalyzing billions in private investment by ensuring state resources are deployed strategically across multiple sectors to achieve measurable economic growth.