Century American Strategic Framework

Key Chapter Title List

1. Strategic Framework for the 21st Century
2. The Path to National Survival
3. The Road to People's Prosperity
4. Competing More Effectively with China on the Global Stage
5. Climate Change and Energy Security
6. Conclusion
7. The World of the 1940s-1950s
8. This is Not Your Grandfather's Cold War
9. Maintaining Robust Defense Resources
10. Shaping an International Environment Conducive to National Objectives
11. Alliances, Partnerships, and International Organizations
12. Strengthening America's Innovation Foundation

Document Introduction

Global events of the past four years have triggered a fundamental shift in the international order. Factors such as the war in Ukraine, the escalation of U.S.-China strategic competition, and the restructuring of supply chains post-COVID-19 have collectively propelled the world into a new geopolitical landscape. Against this backdrop, the United States faces core strategic questions: whether to continue maintaining global leadership, how to respond to China's rise, and how to balance domestic development with international responsibilities. This report is a systematic response to these issues.

With the core missions of "national survival" and "people's prosperity" established by the U.S. Constitution as its foundation, the report constructs the analytical basis for a 21st-century American strategic framework. It first reviews the historical context of the U.S.-led establishment of the international order after World War II, contrasts the current strategic environment with that of the Cold War era, and clearly states that the current U.S.-China competition is not a "new Cold War," but a comprehensive competition spanning political, economic, technological, diplomatic, and other dimensions.

In the dimension of national security, the report analyzes the scale and efficiency issues of the U.S. defense budget, pointing out that despite continuous growth in defense spending, there is still room for improvement in the efficiency of military deployment and equipment procurement. It calls for strengthening defense capabilities through institutional reforms, streamlining the bureaucratic system, and optimizing congressional oversight. Simultaneously, it emphasizes the strategic value of alliance systems and international organizations, proposing that NATO should adjust its theater command structure and that the U.S. needs to enhance its leadership and accountability mechanisms within institutions like the United Nations.

Regarding economic prosperity, the report focuses on the issue of domestic economic inequality in the United States, highlighting how wealth concentration and widening opportunity gaps constrain long-term growth. It advocates for an innovation-centric economic growth strategy, including strengthening global standard-setting authority, reforming the patent system, optimizing immigration policies for high-skilled talent, and implementing dynamic trade policies. It also calls for supporting the development of key sectors through industrial policies, balancing the relationship between market freedom and government regulation.

On the topics of great power competition and the Global South, the report provides a detailed analysis of the strategic contest between the U.S. and China in developing countries. It notes that China is expanding its influence through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and trade-investment cooperation, while the U.S. needs to adjust its policies towards the Global South, shifting from a "didactic aid" model to a development cooperation model that combines "trade and investment." Furthermore, the report explores the interconnected relationship between climate change and energy security, emphasizing the role of commercial nuclear power in emissions reduction and energy security, and calls for the U.S. to restart its nuclear power industry and lead in setting relevant international standards.

The report ultimately concludes that the United States still possesses the structural advantages to maintain its global leadership position. However, it must build consensus and improve governance efficacy through domestic reforms, while employing pragmatic strategies to address global challenges. On the basis of ensuring its own security and prosperity, the U.S. should promote the construction of an international order that aligns with its own values and interests.