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.
How Takaichi Can Triumph
English Summary
The article analyzes two competing geopolitical visions regarding the changing global order. One perspective, exemplified by Canada's Mark Carney, suggests middle powers should pivot away from U.S. reliance and view China as a potential counterweight to American power. Conversely, Japan's Sanae Takaichi argues that China, rather than the United States, represents the most significant disruptive threat globally. Policymakers must navigate this fundamental disagreement over the source of instability, determining whether the primary strategic focus should be mitigating Chinese influence or managing the shifting relationship between the U.S. and its allies.
中文摘要
本文分析了兩種相互競爭的全球秩序地緣政治願景。一種觀點，以加拿大人物馬克·卡尼（Mark Carney）為例，建議中等國家應擺脫對美國的依賴，並將中國視為美國權力的潛在制衡力量。相反地，日本的貴志紗奈惠（Sanae Takaichi）則主張，在全球範圍內，中國而非美國代表了最主要的顛覆性威脅。政策制定者必須權衡這一關於不穩定性來源的根本分歧，決定戰略重點究竟應放在減緩中國的影響力，還是管理美國及其盟友之間不斷變化的關係。
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