Planeloads of Russian vacationers have been jetting into the Indian Ocean archipelago, in record numbers, making Aeroflot, the Russian national carrier, an increasingly common sight at Velana International Airport, the South Asian nation’s international gateway. According to a report by Nikkei Asia, Russian discovery of the Maldives in the time of Covid-19 is making up for a loss of tourists from China.

How the U.S. and its allies respond to China in the Indo-Pacific could have major repercussions for decades to come. That’s because China is trying to get a foothold in the area, and if the U.S. and its allies don’t increase their presence there, China will—with very real consequences for geopolitics, national security and trade. Joining us in this episode of China Unscripted is Cleo Paskal, an associate fellow in the Energy, Environment and Resources Program and Asia-Pacific Program at Chatham House. She’s