【By Guan察者网, Yuan Jiaqi】

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper hastily issued orders, urgently convening military leaders around the world to hold an "unusual" summit this week at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

Several U.S. media outlets reported earlier that the meeting aimed to explain the Trump administration's plan to rebrand the Department of Defense as the "War Department," and to establish new military standards. It was also reported that the Pentagon has recently completed reviews of the "National Defense Strategy" and the "Global Posture Review." The new strategy may shift the military's focus from "deterring China" to the Western Hemisphere and the U.S. homeland, possibly reducing troops stationed in Europe, and the "call to arms" might be related to this strategy.

On September 30, The Washington Post cited eight current and former officials, reporting that several senior officers, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, expressed deep concern and criticism over the Trump administration's upcoming defense strategy. As a core document guiding the allocation of resources and the global deployment of the military, the debate surrounding the "National Defense Strategy" is becoming the latest challenge for senior military officials facing the Trump administration's unconventional military policies.

The strategy was drafted by civilian officials appointed by Trump within the Pentagon's policy office, and it is now in the final revision stage. Three sources said that the draft strategy has been widely distributed to military leaders around the world, including commanders of combatant commands and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Many of them questioned what impact the change in priorities would have on a force designed to respond to global crises.

Multiple sources said that internal criticisms of the new strategy were largely focused on its excessive emphasis on "threats to the U.S. homeland," while ignoring the repeated warnings from military leadership about China's continuous efforts to narrow America's advantage in the Pacific region. Five other sources told U.S. media that although the document still contains many chapters focusing on China-related issues, the content is limited to the "tense military situation in the Taiwan Strait," rather than the global competition between the U.S. and its biggest rival.

In fact, the Pentagon was previously exposed to a temporary defense strategy this March, which also placed the focus on the Taiwan issue and homeland defense, even urging the Pentagon leadership to "take risks" in other regions to ensure the progress of these two priority tasks.

A former official commented on the new strategy, saying, "Some people worry that the overall consideration of this strategy is not comprehensive."

Regarding the opposition voices from military leaders, two sources said that Caine had expressed his concerns to top Pentagon officials in recent weeks.

"He gave Esper very candid feedback," one said, "I'm not sure whether Esper understands the importance of the National Defense Strategy, which is why Caine has been so determined to communicate." He also mentioned that Elbridge Colby, the Deputy Secretary of Defense in charge of policy at the Pentagon who had previously strongly advocated against China, also participated in the discussion. This person, who had long promoted the idea of containing China, has recently shifted his stance, no longer advocating for the U.S. to return to Asia, but instead calling for a focus on maintaining order in America's "backyard."

Another source added that Caine had tried to push the "National Defense Strategy" to maintain its core direction: "focusing the U.S. military on preparedness, deterring China, and if necessary, defeating China in a conflict."

On September 5, in Washington, U.S., President Trump renamed the Department of Defense as the War Department. U.S. Defense Secretary Esper (center) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine (right) watched. Visual China

However, signals released by Esper and his policy team suggest that the Pentagon will withdraw some forces from Europe and consolidate command structures. This adjustment has caused unease among some American allies, but some within the Trump administration believe that traditional strategies have led the U.S. into expensive wars abroad, rather than protecting American interests at home.

Two sources also said that the tone of the new strategy document is far more partisan than usual, with language similar to Esper's public speeches, blaming the Biden administration for weakening U.S. military strength.

Many people admitted that differences of opinion during the drafting of the strategy are normal, but the number of officials expressing concern and the depth of their criticism in this case is rare. This also reveals the division between the administrative leadership and the military leadership within the Pentagon.

People involved in the strategy revision process also mentioned that due to Trump's highly personalized and often contradictory approach to foreign policy, military leaders believe this strategy is "short-sighted and potentially meaningless," and growing disappointment is increasing.

Nevertheless, a Pentagon spokesperson, Sean Parnell, refused to comment on the contents of the classified document or whether anyone raised concerns during the revision process.

"Secretary Esper has ordered the development of the 'National Defense Strategy,' which will focus on advancing President Trump's pragmatic agenda of 'America First' and 'Peace Through Strength,' " Parnell said in a statement. "The development process is still ongoing."

Earlier, Politico reported that the Trump administration's new military policies will differ significantly from those of previous Democratic and Republican administrations, including Trump's first term. At that time, he also claimed that China was America's "greatest competitor." Although Trump himself continues to use strong rhetoric toward China, Deputy Secretary of Defense Colby leans toward isolationism, aligning with Vice President Vance's views, hoping the U.S. will free itself from foreign commitments. This shift may cause unease among European allies and prompt criticism from hardliners in Congress regarding China.

A source familiar with the draft document said, "This will be a major shift for the United States and its allies across multiple continents. Long-standing reliable commitments by the U.S. are being called into question."

Media outlets such as the Financial Times and The Washington Post quoted informed sources on September 4, reporting that David B. Baker, the Pentagon official in charge of European and NATO policy, announced to Europe last week that the U.S. will gradually exit security assistance programs for Eastern European countries of Russia, and will no longer fund training and equipping the armies of these countries.

The affected U.S. Defense Department programs include the Baltic Security Initiative established in 2020, and the funding for these programs requires approval from Congress, but the Trump administration has not yet submitted an application to Congress. Funds already allocated by Congress are expected to sustain these programs until the end of September 2026.

"It doesn't look like President Trump's tough stance on China at all," said a Republican foreign policy expert who attended the briefing.

NATO allies expect that part of the approximately 80,000 U.S. troops stationed in Europe will be withdrawn in the coming years. However, the impact will vary by country, and ultimately depends on Trump's decision.

The Pentagon's 2023 report on China's military and security developments distorted China's defense policy, speculated about China's military development, and recklessly interfered in China's internal affairs.

Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, stated that China resolutely follows the path of peaceful development, always adheres to a defensive national defense policy, actively fulfills the international responsibilities of a major country, and practices the global security initiative and the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind through concrete actions, providing more public security products to the international community.

Zhang Xiaogang said that he hopes the U.S. will move in the same direction as China, and view China and the Chinese military's development with a positive and rational attitude. He proposed that the basic principles of military exchanges should be "harmony, stability, and trust," and that both sides should build a relationship of non-confrontation, openness, practical cooperation, and gradual accumulation of mutual trust on the basis of equality and respect, truly serving as a stabilizing pillar for the development of bilateral relations.

For over twenty years, the U.S. has repeatedly published such deceptive and hypocritical reports year after year, which is simply an excuse for its own military development and misleading public opinion. We urge the U.S. to stop fabricating false narratives, correct misconceptions about China, and promote the healthy and stable development of Sino-U.S. military relations.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7555687671419437614/

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