The China-Russia partnership is a highly consequential geopolitical alignment driven by a shared goal of countering U.S. hegemony and reshaping the international order into a multipolar system. While not a formal alliance, this relationship is strengthened by Russia's increasing economic reliance on China following Western sanctions, which allows Beijing to leverage its influence. Policymakers should note that while the partnership projects deep solidarity (as seen in high-level summits), it remains complex and limited by mutual mistrust and competing strategic interests. This enduring alignment poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests and requires continued diplomatic vigilance.
Rebuilding American Airpower: Balancing the Air Force’s Combat Forces for Peer Conflict
English Summary
The Mitchell Institute argues that the U.S. Air Force requires a comprehensive modernization effort to maintain a balanced force mix capable of defeating a peer adversary in high-intensity conflict. This necessity is underscored by a wargame comparing alternative force designs for 2035, which informed the recommendations. Strategically, the report urges Congress and the Department of Defense to make difficult choices regarding future force design. Policy must prioritize investments in fifth-generation combat aircraft, autonomous systems, and advanced guided munitions to ensure the service can simultaneously defend the homeland and deter major power aggression.
中文摘要
米切爾研究所(Mitchell Institute)認為,美國空軍必須進行全面性的現代化努力,以維持一套平衡的戰力結構,從而在高強度衝突中擊敗同級對手。這項必要性是基於一場比較2035年替代戰力設計的戰役模擬(wargame)所強調的,該模擬結果也為本報告的建議提供了依據。從戰略角度來看,本報告敦促國會和國防部就未來戰力設計做出艱難的抉擇。政策制定必須優先投資於第五代戰鬥機、自主系統和先進的精導彈藥,以確保空軍能夠同時防禦本土並威懾主要大國的侵略。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The Chatham House analysis concludes that the UK's Defence Investment Plan (DIP) will be viewed by NATO allies as a mixed bag, primarily due to its failure to commit to higher GDP spending targets. However, the plan signals critical strategic improvements by emphasizing novel technologies—such as autonomous systems and digital infrastructure—and enhancing readiness. Crucially, the DIP adopts an international focus through major collaborative programs (e.g., AUKUS, GCAP) and establishes a new National Armaments Director Group (NADG). This structural shift toward flexible, portfolio-based collaboration is strategically valuable for NATO allies seeking reliable partners as US conventional forces reduce their European presence.
-
3.
The article argues that the U.S., through recent policy signals—such as questioning NATO's value or sympathizing with great-power territorial claims—is inadvertently adopting the core tenets of non-alignment, prioritizing transactional national interests over binding alliances. Historically, while non-alignment allowed developing nations to gain benefits without commitment, the analysis notes that this approach lacks the deep trust and shared obligations necessary for robust security structures. The implication is critical: by undermining established alliances, the U.S. risks losing its greatest strategic asset—the network of mutual commitments—as allies actively seek alternative bilateral or regional defense pacts.
-
4.
The roundtable established that implementing generational bans represents a powerful, long-term strategy for tackling deeply entrenched public health crises like tobacco use. Using the UK’s permanent ban on selling cigarettes to those born after 2009 as key evidence, experts analyzed how such policies fundamentally alter market dynamics and consumer behavior over time. These lessons suggest that other nations facing persistent addiction challenges should consider adopting similar age-gating or generational restrictions to accelerate decline and set a precedent for future public health policy interventions.
-
5.
The CSIS analysis finds that the U.S. grid's regulatory framework for connecting large loads is severely fragmented and unprepared for the massive electricity demands posed by AI data centers. FERC has mandated significant reforms across six regional operators, requiring them to modernize interconnection studies, prevent cost-shifting, and establish clear tariffs for co-located generation. Evidence shows that most operators fall far short of these new standards, necessitating complex, multi-year policy adjustments rather than simple compliance. Policymakers must coordinate federal regulation (FERC) with state utilities to accelerate grid modernization, ensuring energy affordability while maintaining technological competitiveness.