Panic about China in Antarctica or shoehorning the continent into US-China geostrategic competition risks creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Australia’s interest in a peaceful Antarctica doesn’t fit such a binary view. Besides, where else would it be commonplace for Chinese, Australian and US teams to cooperate to save the life of an Australian expeditioner, as they did late last year?
What Australia does need is to secure funding for more Antarctic diplomacy, science and presence on the ice in defence of the ideals of the Antarctic Treaty. It should be recognised as a working rules-based system that remains supported by all parties, despite some internal tensions.