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.
What does China’s new Five-Year Plan mean for the climate?
English Summary
China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) prioritizes clean energy expansion and economic resilience over specific emission reduction targets, signaling a strategic pivot toward technological supremacy. The blueprint emphasizes dominating global green tech production to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly those exposed by the Iran war and other geopolitical instabilities. Consequently, China is increasingly integrating its climate ambitions with broader foreign policy goals, leveraging its lead in clean technology to reshape international energy markets and challenge Western industrial competitiveness.
中文摘要
中國的「十五五」規劃（2026–2030年）優先發展清潔能源擴張與經濟韌性，而非具體的減排目標，標誌著其戰略重心正轉向技術優勢。該藍圖強調主導全球綠色技術生產，以緩解供應鏈的脆弱性，特別是針對伊朗戰爭及其他地緣政治動盪所暴露出的風險。因此，中國正日益將氣候雄心與更廣泛的外交政策目標相結合，利用其在清潔技術領域的領先地位重塑國際能源市場，並挑戰西方的產業競爭力。
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