Covid-19 in South-East Asia, geopolitics of Antarctica, the future of Darwin Port

Recently, Covid-19 cases in Southeast Asia have hit new highs, making it the global epicentre of the coronavirus. As countries across the region try to curb the spread of the Delta variant, Richard Maude and Dr Huong Le Thu detail how Australia can support its neighbours and the region’s potential path to recovery. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty, which governs international use of the Southern Continent. Research intern Matthew Page speaks to polar geopolitics expert Dr Elizabeth Buchanan, Lecturer of Strategic Studies with Deakin University for the Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the Australian War College Canberra and a Fellow of the Modern War Institute at West Point Military Academy. All views are her own. They discuss the geopolitics of the region, the usefulness of the treaty system 60 years on and what Australia should be focusing on in its Antarctic policy. The Port of Darwin, currently under a 99-year lease to Chinese company Landbridge, is of strategic importance to Australia and our allies. Co-author of the latest report from Northern Australia Strategic Policy Centre, ‘Lead me to the harbour!: Plotting Darwin Harbour's future course’, Dr John Coyne joins Michael Shoebridge to discuss how Australia can maximise the strategic value of Darwin Port through a unified direction, that accounts for contrasting interests and stakeholders. Mentioned in this episode: ‘Lead me to the harbour!: Plotting Darwin Harbour’s future course’ report: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/lead-me-harbour-plotting-darwin-harbours-future-course Guests (in order of appearance): Dr Huong Le Thu: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/huong-le-thu Richard Maude: https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/richard-maude Matthew Page: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/matthew-page Dr Elizabeth Buchanan: https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/elizabeth-buchanan Michael Shoebridge: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/michael-shoebridge Dr John Coyne: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/john-coyne Music: "Hachimantai Snow" by Maarten Schellekens via the FreeMusicArchive.org