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.
Xi the Destroyer
English Summary
The recent purge of top general Zhang Youxia from the Central Military Commission (CMC) signals a new and highly volatile phase of political maneuvering within China's military leadership. Despite Zhang's long-standing relationship with Xi Jinping, the removal suggests that even close allies are vulnerable to purges. This action underscores Xi's continued consolidation of power and indicates a deepening level of internal intrigue within the People's Liberation Army. Strategically, this suggests that the CCP leadership remains highly unstable and unpredictable, raising concerns about the reliability of China's military command structure.
中文摘要
中央軍委（CMC）近期撤除頂級將領張又俠，預示著中國軍方領導層內部進入了一個全新且極不穩定的政治角力階段。儘管張又俠與習近平關係長期緊密，但這次的行動暗示了即使是親近的盟友也可能成為清洗的目標。此舉突顯了習近平持續鞏固權力的趨勢，並表明中國人民解放軍內部正在加深層次的權力鬥爭。從戰略角度來看，這顯示中共領導層的穩定性和可預測性極低，引發了人們對中國軍事指揮體系可靠性的擔憂。
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