That Beijing would want to take advantage of this is hardly a surprise. And as China seeks a "reset" in relations under Biden, the SCMP reports that the two countries are preparing to hold the first round of in-person high-level talks.

These talks will feature heavyweights from both sides. The US delegation will be led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while the Chinese delegation will feature Yang Jiechi, a top Chinese diplomat who often serves as an envoy of President Xi. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi - who has made several fiery comments about the US in recent weeks - might also make an appearance.

Notably, the SCMP says the talks will likely be held in Anchorage, Alaska. Why Anchorage? Well, apparently, the Chinese are keen on Alaska because it's equidistant to Washington and Beijing, while still being outside the US mainland. This, in theory, would make it easier for the government and its propaganda apparatus to portray the talks as having taken place on neutral territory, while also allowing the diplomats to avoid heavy scrutiny from the press.