Southeast Asian governments – which are badly affected by the pandemic – have been the leading recipients of Chinese aid. It comes at a time when ASEAN is attempting to reappraise its position with respect to the US and China, given accelerating competition between the two powers.

As the largest new player in the region, this paper briefly examines China’s ‘COVID-19 diplomacy’ and argues that the pandemic may have geopolitical consequences.

This papers argues that much of the corona virus ‘blame game’, including the Australian government’s call for an international independent inquiry into China’s actions, is misguided and self-interested.

The recommendations in the report are designed to maximise the value and mitigate the downside risks of China engagement for Australia's Antarctic and broader national interests.

The COVID-19 pandemic unquestionably presents an era-defining challenge to public health and the global economy. Its political consequences, both short- and long-term, are less well understood.