⁍ Beijing is bracing for more turbulence in the run-up to the U.S. election in November.

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⁍ The possibility that a Joe Biden presidency presents an opportunity to avoid a deeper conflict.

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⁍ Some Chinese government and military hawks see four more years of Trump as an opportunity to accelerate China’s ascent.

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– China isn’t happy about the US shutting its consulate in Houston this week, but it’s also not happy about the idea of a Joe Biden presidency. Reuters reports that Beijing is preparing for a confrontation with the US in the run-up to the November election. “There are no illusions about restoring relations back to the good old days, but a new president at least provides a chance to reset relations,” one Chinese official says. “After all, you can’t get a worse relationship than the current one.” The Chinese government think tank is already preparing reports on the election and US public sentiment, with a focus on Biden and his policies. “The Chinese seem to be under no illusions that a Biden victory would reverse Washington’s view of China, but will likely make an overture for dialogue with a new administration,” says Daniel Russel, the top diplomat for East Asia under President Obama. Both the Biden and Trump campaigns say China is pulling for the other. “China is angry with Trump for his criticism of China and for his action of imposing sanctions on China,” says Shi Yinhong, an adviser to China’s cabinet and a professor at Beijing’s Renmin University. “Moreover, the Chinese sense that his political standing at home seems to have been shaken, so his value has dropped.”