PORT Adelaide chairman David Koch has slammed Mick Malthouse's assertion that the AFL's move into China must end.

Koch confirmed the Power would look to continue playing games in Shanghai next season should international bans be lifted.

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The Power were forced to cancel this year's clash against St Kilda due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, which originated in China.

It prompted calls for the future of the partnership between Port Adelaide and China to end, led by the coaching great.

"When it comes to China, Mick Malthouse has zero expertise and shows zero relevance in any of this," Koch told Fox Footy on Saturday.

"If Mick Malthouse made any comment on footy, maybe I'd give it a passing glance of attention but when it comes to China, absolutely zero relevance whatsoever.

"In this regard, he's a bit of a dinosaur.

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"China is aimed at making sure this club has the financial resources and wherewithal to have a fully funded football program.

"The business of running an AFL club is based around having a whole bunch of different income streams that are not tied to the club in terms of the performance.

"I have no idea when we're going to be able to travel overseas. Until there's certainty on the health level and on the government, it's in limbo at the moment. That does not reduce our enthusiasm and commitment to China going forward."

Malthouse this week called for the move to end given rising tension between China and international governments over the spread of COVID-19.

"In the present predicament, and what's come out with the spat between Australia and China and probably most of the world, let's face it, certainly the Americans ... I'd be very, very reluctant to go back to China," he told News Corp.

"You can't sell your soul. They're only going to be going there for one reason (money) – you sell your soul.

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"The last thing we need to do is sell our soul, and I think most people are seeing that. I'm not anti-Chinese. Am I anti-Chinese government? Yes, I am.

"Any regimen that suppresses free opinion, free voice, free religion, automatically riles me.

"But I don’t think we should be seen to be selling our soul to a regimen that clearly has different values than we do."

The year's game was set to be the second clash against the Saints after the Power played their opening two matches in the city against Gold Coast in 2017-2018.