Canberra: Taiwan's top envoy to Australia, Douglas Hsu, is advocating for strengthened cooperation between Taipei and Canberra, particularly in the areas of critical minerals and drone technology. Hsu, who took his position in August 2023, emphasized the potential for collaboration during an interview with CNA upon his return to Taipei for a routine debriefing. According to Focus Taiwan, Hsu noted that Australia is increasingly aware of the need to reduce its economic dependence on China, its largest trading partner. He has been actively encouraging Australia to engage with Taiwan on its own merits rather than viewing it through the lens of its relationship with China. Hsu stated that Australia is now more inclined to engage with Taiwan, albeit less publicly, after experiencing China's carrot-and-stick approach. Hsu identified critical minerals as a key area for bilateral collaboration, highlighting that many countries, including Taiwan, are recognizing the importance of diversifying away from China's domin ance in this sector. While acknowledging Taiwan's current lack of expertise in mining, Hsu pointed to a critical minerals pact between the U.S. and Australia as a potential framework for future cooperation. Additionally, he mentioned that drones, including underwater drones and anti-drone systems, present further opportunities for partnership, given Taiwan's advanced AI capabilities. According to Hsu, the relationship between Canberra and Beijing deteriorated in 2020 after Australia called for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. This led to Beijing imposing high tariffs on Australian exports, which were only lifted in 2024 as relations improved. Despite the end of these punitive tariffs, Australia's awareness of China's economic coercion has grown, partly due to recent espionage cases involving China. Hsu argued that geopolitical shifts, including the return of U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House in 2025, have compelled Canberra to seek more reliable democratic partners amid growing Chinese influence in the South Pacific. As a longstanding top 10 trading partner, Taiwan is seen as an increasingly valuable ally, with Australia recognizing the need to invest more in bilateral relations. Hsu also highlighted Taiwan's experience in countering Chinese infiltration campaigns as another area for potential collaboration with Australia, underscoring the multifaceted nature of the partnership he envisions.