Talk politics.

With their latest string of controversial actions, from Hong Kong, to the violence against the Uighurs, to the constant accusations of espionage, China seems to be doing their best to ensure that the US would never ever return to their previous cordial relations with the Big Tiger. Moreover, the more the November presidential election in the US approaches, the more both contenders will be pushing toward a firmer stance on China. Probably to a point where, whoever of them wins, the approach to China would hardly be softened. Not least importantly, because a firmer stance enjoys a lot of support within the US itself.

Trump's campaign is trying to present Biden as too soft on China, arguing that he has underestimated the imminent threat. Biden's camp, on the contrary, claims Trump has demonstrated almost loving feelings to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, and has no desire of real confrontation with him on trade or the Covid pandemic.

Most analysts tend to believe the Chinese rather prefer to wait and see if the current approach would go on after the election. Some think the Chinese prefer Trump to win because he has done nothing but weaken America's positions during his first term, while Biden would likely be more uncompromising on human rights and other related subjects. But the fact is, a mere election, and a potential change of guard in the White House probably wouldn't be enough to end the dark period of Sino-American relations.

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