Caixin Hong Kong Summit: Dialogue Between Hu Shuli and Joseph Nye on China-U.S. Relations

The former dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government discussed the great power competition between the two countries in a discussion at the Caixin Summer Summit with Publisher Hu Shuli

Hu Shuli in coversation with Joseph Nye at the Caixin Summer Summit 2024 in Hong Kong, May 31. Photo: Caixin

The U.S.-China relationship will not return to the age of engagement no matter who wins the U.S. presidential election this year, said Joseph Nye, former dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, during a dialogue with Hu Shuli, publisher of Caixin Media on Friday.

Speaking via video link at the Caixin Summer Summit in Hong Kong, the 87-year-old Harvard distinguished professor emeritus predicted a “50:50” chance for either the incumbent U.S. President Joe Biden or his predecessor, Donald Trump, to win the race for the White House in November.

Nye, who pioneered the theory of “soft power” for nation states in international relations, said that regardless of who wins, they would both follow a similar China policy seen in past years and that the great power competition between the two countries will continue.

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