The Covid-19 pandemic, which has also hit the countries of Southeast Asia, has had disastrous consequences for the economy. Meanwhile, the rivalry between China and the US for dominance continues unabated.. Politicians from both sides use the fight against the pandemic as an asset to gain global advantage. The ASEAN countries, located in the very center of the region, are necessarily involved in this struggle – writes Dr. Tomasz Gerlach in the analysis ASEAN in times of pandemic.