Biden’s presidency is nearly half-way over, and the first National Security Strategy by his administration was finally published. In this belated report, the Biden administration answered such key questions as how the US should view the current international landscapes, how to deal with severe challenges, and how to advance its foreign strategy and safeguard its own interests. To a certain extent, this report marks the finalized design with a focus on “great power competition” in the US national security strategy. However, it also shows that the US failed to think outside the box in response to the new international landscapes and challenges, revealing three unresolved contradictions the Biden administration made when planning its national security and foreign strategies.

The concept of “security demands” or a “security concern” may sound as if it is somehow related to spheres of influence, but security concerns are not exclusive---their most fundamental difference from spheres of influence.

A new round of turbulence has emerged in the South China Sea since the second half of 2019. And against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, some claimants and countries outside the region have become more and more anxious, with increased military, diplomatic and economic moves, leading to greater tension. Major media are even talking about an upcoming war in the South China Sea between China and the United States. What are the factors influencing the situation in the South China Sea? What are the most likely future developments? A sober assessment is needed.