For some, the prospect of Sino-American relations is trapped in a "Thucydidean trap". For others, in a Kantian perspective. One thing is certain. The future of Sino-American relations is one of the greatest challenges for both current politics and the theory of International Relations. A theory that receives dual criticism. On the one hand, due to its tendency to become increasingly abstract. On the other hand, due to its inability to develop predictive tools. The book argues that the problem of theory lies elsewhere: in the explanatory monism it adopts and expresses in terms of analytical "bias". Moreover, distancing oneself from political action is a healthy phenomenon, while the pursuit of a predictive science of International Relations (however captivating it may be) depoliticizes politics. After an analytical mapping of theoretical projections in the Sino-American challenge, the book concludes with a paraphrase of a timeless lesson from Hans Morgenthau: skill in analyzing international politics does not require the faithful application of a mechanistic model, but the wisdom and humility of an authentic thinker.