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.
China and the U.S. Agreed to ‘Strategic Stability’ in Beijing. They Don’t Define It the Same Way.
English Summary
The Beijing summit did not resolve U.S.-China competition, but instead established a framework of 'mutually useful ambiguity' by having both powers claim 'strategic stability' while defining it differently. The U.S. framed the agreement around transactional, economic deliverables (e.g., trade boards, purchases), while China emphasized a political doctrine centered on respecting its 'core interests' and development path. This fundamental asymmetry means the relationship is defined by managed rivalry, not strategic settlement, leaving critical issues like Taiwan, AI, and overcapacity outside the formal agreements. Policymakers must recognize that the current arrangement is a bargaining mechanism, not a resolution, suggesting continued volatility despite the high-level dialogue.
中文摘要
北京峰會並未解決美中競爭，反而建立了一種「互利模糊性」的框架。這體現在兩方都宣稱「戰略穩定」，但對其定義卻存在差異。美國將協議框架化為圍繞交易性、經濟層面的成果（例如貿易委員會、購買協議），而中國則強調以尊重其「核心利益」和發展路徑為核心的政治學說。這種根本性的不對稱性意味著雙方關係是由「管理式競爭」所定義，而非戰略性解決，導致台灣、人工智慧（AI）和產能過剩等關鍵議題被排除在正式協議之外。政策制定者必須認識到，當前安排僅是一個談判機制，而非最終解決方案，這暗示了儘管舉行了高層對話，局勢仍將持續波動。
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