In the 1990s, the famous concept of “soft power” was put forward by Joseph Nye, professor and former dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. It greatly influenced the foreign policy of the Obama administration and became an important concept promoted by the State Department. In his view, a country’s comprehensive national power is divided into hard power and soft power, which mainly includes “cultural attraction, political value attraction and the ability to shape international rules and decide political issues”.

The deterioration of China-U.S. relations has not ended, and a turnaround is unlikely. Given the intense frictions of recent years, both countries have built up a fixed mindset about diplomatic strategy that has been incorporated in their domestic politics. Superb diplomatic skills will be needed to avert confrontation.

The post-pandemic era has given rise to new thinking around the world. There is ample reason to believe that the post-pandemic era will bring neither a new cold war of confrontation nor a dark age of international friction.

Americans can attempt to shift blame for their troubles onto China, but that won’t solve any of the real problems they face. China’s successes cannot be erased by political rhetoric. Attempting to do so will only bring more trouble.

Cold War rhetoric between China and the United States is amplifying, with the United Kingdom caught in the middle. Cybersecurity, technology, and climate change will be the guiding issues that will determine the next stage of US-China relations.

The future of U.S.-China relations remains uncertain, and the upcoming U.S. Presidential elections have the opportunity to fray relations further. Between territorial disputes and cyberwarfare, there are a range of issues on which the two nations must set parameters in order to maintain peace and stability.

World conditions are not conducive to another cold war, and there’s little reason to expect one. Maybe all the talk is just U.S. rhetoric to frighten others into joining an anti-China bloc.

China must study the possibilities to prevent the rebirth of the sort of chilly long-term isolation experienced by the United States and Soviet Union in the past. Above all, it should reject unhelpful ideological comparisons.

Only mechanisms that support dialogue in the face of potential confrontation will do the job. If a military conflict occurs, no matter how limited, the door to a protracted cold war will be thrown open.

With a potential new confrontation looming between China and the United States, it’s clear that the ground has shifted from the Cold War era. The rules of a new cold war will not be set by the major powers alone.