australia only recognised mongolia as independent from the republic of china (taiwan) in february 1967, despite taiwanese objections. mongolia was only the second communist state australia had recognised, after the soviet union. the two countries established official diplomatic relations on 15 september 1972. mongolia opened an embassy in canberra in 2008, while australia opened an embassy in ulaanbaatar in december 2015, previously having opened an australian trade commission in 2011.