China’s influence in Asia plummets as Australia gains on Russia

However, the report predicts China should be able to quickly bounce back following President Xi Jinping’s decision to end his nation’s self-imposed isolation by abandoning his longstanding “COVID zero” policy.

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“Over the past couple of years China has really been competing with one hand behind its back,” Patton said.

“China, once it is fully re-opened, will be a much more formidable and potent competitor to the United States in Asia.”

Despite its hardline COVID measures, China overtook the US as the most diplomatically influential in Asia and hosted more leaders and foreign ministers than any other country in the region.

Australia remains the sixth most powerful nation in Asia – below the US, China, Japan, India and Russia – but ahead of more populous nations such as South Korea and Indonesia.

Australia gained significant ground in diplomatic influence over the past year but recorded a decline in defence networks.

The report found Russia risks “growing irrelevance” in Asia and recorded a steep decline in diplomatic influence and a loss of reputation following the invasion of Ukraine.

India, meanwhile, is an “under-achiever, performing less well than would be expected based on its size and available resources”.

The report warns that Japan, long regarded as a “quintessential smart power”, will struggle to maintain influence in the region because of declines in economic capability and the nation’s diplomatic network.