Taiwan’s top diplomat in Australia says subs will help quell Chinese agression

Australia acquiring nuclear submarines will be an important move as China becomes “more and more aggressive”, he says.

Taiwan’s top diplomat in Australia has backed the decision to join AUKUS and build nuclear submarines, saying it has the capacity to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo Pacific region and add to peace and stability.

Taiwan’s chief representative to Australia Douglas Hsu will give a lecture at Adelaide University Tuesday night and will discuss the geopolitical risks in the Indo Pacific and South China Sea as well as business opportunities in the energy sector, including hydrogen.

Mr Hsu said in the last two years “China has become more and more aggressive’’.

“We definitely want to see more and more like-minded countries to step up and pay more attention to the peace and stability of the Indo Pacific region,’’ Mr Hsu said.

“So with this setup for the AUKUS, I think Australia has been more proactive in the Indo Pacific region.

“What Taiwan wants, of course, that will be seen as a way to deter China, so that when Beijing would like to do something outrageous, maybe they will think twice.’’

The Taiwanese ambassador Douglas Yu-tien Hsu in Brisbane. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Mr Hsu also said that while the Taiwan was almost 7000km from Adelaide, it was important Australians were still engaged and were aware that any conflict in the region would have far-reaching consequences as the “world is closer’’ than ever before because of advances in technology and communications.

He pointed to the disruption to the global economy caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“If conflict should happen in one place, no matter which part of the world is going to affect everybody and the rest of the world,’’ he said.

Last month, China held a series of military drills near Taiwan after new president Lai Ching-te was sworn in.

Australia adheres to a one-China policy, which means it does not officially recognise Taiwan as a country. But Taiwan is also Australia’s ninth-largest two way goods and services trading partner, with trade worth $33.6 billion.

Australia’s biggest exports to Taiwan include coal, natural gas, iron ore, copper and beef.

Mr Hsu said Taiwan’s energy sector was undergoing changes as it moved to net zero and was closing down its nuclear power stations. He said it was also looking to build energy “resilience’’ so it could thwart any blockade by China.

Taiwan is building offshore wind farms and increasing solar generation and Mr Hsu said there was capacity for greater trade with Australia in critical minerals and hydrogen.

The diplomat said his country was already examining opportunities for hydrogen, and already had one deal in place t import the product from Australia in 2028. He said South Australia could be another market for the country.

“If South Australia provides hydrogen we are definitely going to come to South Australia,’’ Mr Hsu said.

Douglas Hsu will speak Tuesday at 6pm in Adelaide University’s Napier Building.

Originally published as Taiwan’s top diplomat in Australia says subs will help quell Chinese agression