Taiwan is courting a new political ally in Canada, a modest but positive step for its push to break out of diplomatic isolation.

• Lawmakers from Canada's Bloc Québécois visited Taiwan for the first time since the party formed in 1991, meeting President Lai Ching-te.
• Taiwan wants deeper ties in AI, chips, aerospace, critical minerals, clean energy and supply chain security.
• The pitch is simple: Quebec has AI research and aerospace, Taiwan has the world's best chipmaking, and Taiwanese firms plan more investment in Montreal.
• The bloc is pushing Ottawa to sign a trade deal with Taiwan that was negotiated in early 2025 but still unsigned.
• The delegation visited Kinmen, where Chinese construction sits two kilometers away, and backed Taiwan joining the WHO, CPTPP and the global aviation body.

Outlook: Expect continued pressure on Canada's government to sign the trade pact, with China likely to push back hard.