On Wednesday, April 15, ASPI Vice President of International Security and Diplomacy Daniel Russel spoke with Foreign Policy Association’s "Off-The-Record” group via webcast to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on China and its international standing. Russel shared his perspective on how China managed the virus domestically and the political implications for President Xi and the Party. While China is promoting the narrative of successfully handling the virus in comparison to the West and claims to be poised for rapid economic recovery, Russel warns that the pandemic isn’t over just yet and outlines the range of political and economic challenges facing Beijing at home and abroad as a result of COVID-19.

Russel shares his perspective on how China managed the virus domestically, how Beijing is trying to re-write the COVID-19 narrative domestically, and the economic and political challenges facing the government.

Russel discusses the emergence of China’s face mask diplomacy and it’s reception overseas, and Beijing’s attempts to shape the virus narrative and tout the success of the Chinese model in comparison to the West.