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.
America needs partners to challenge China’s critical mineral chokehold
English Summary
The United States must leverage international partnerships and multilateral frameworks to break China’s dominant 'chokehold' on critical mineral supply chains essential for defense and high-tech industries. While previous unilateral approaches hindered progress, emerging 2026 initiatives like 'Project Vault' and the 'Forge' forum signal a strategic shift toward a collaborative 'Metals NATO' model. To successfully compete with China’s predatory pricing, U.S. policy must prioritize early-stage project funding and high environmental and labor standards to attract producing nations. These coordinated efforts are vital for securing the resilient supply chains required for national security and the global energy transition.
中文摘要
美國必須運用國際夥伴關係與多邊架構，打破中國對國防及高科技產業至關重要的關鍵礦產供應鏈之主導「鎖喉」地位。儘管過去的單邊手段阻礙了進度，但 2026 年湧現的倡議（如「金庫計畫」Project Vault 與「鍛造」Forge 論壇）顯示戰略已轉向協作式的「金屬北約」模式。為有效應對中國的掠奪性定價，美國政策須優先提供早期計畫資金，並制定高標準的環境與勞工準則以吸引生產國。這些協調行動對於確保國家安全及全球能源轉型所需的具韌性供應鏈至關重要。
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