The US is financing a $400 million scandium mining project in Australia—the world's first dedicated primary scandium mine—to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earth supply chains and secure critical materials for advanced aerospace, defense, and technology sectors. Thai government under PM Anutin is monitoring this development and positioning Thailand within the emerging Western-aligned critical minerals supply chain, signaling both the strategic importance of these resources and opportunities for regional participation in alternatives to China-dominated sourcing.