Taiwan Expands List Of Goods Subject To Sanctions For Russia And Belarus

Taiwan's Ministry of Economy announced on Tuesday December 26 that it had expanded its list of sanctioned goods for Russia and its allies Belarus in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This sanction aims to prevent Taiwan's high-tech items from being used for military purposes.

Taiwan has condemned Russian attacks and has joined in its Western-led sanctions efforts, although symbolically because there is only minimal direct trade between the island and Russia.

In its latest sanctions announcement, Taiwan's Ministry of Economy said this step was taken "to fulfill international cooperation and prevent the export of our high-tech goods for military purposes".

The list includes equipment to make semiconductors, production that makes Taiwan a world leader, as well as some chemicals and drugs, adding to previous announcements that have targeted the chip industry.

The new sanctions are in accordance with those announced by the European Union, the United States, and other countries, the ministry said in a statement.

The European Union, the United States, and other countries recently collected weapons debris from Ukraine's battlefield and compiled "high priority lists" of parts and electronic and mechanical equipment widely used in commercial applications and could be used to manufacture weapons, he added.

"In principle", export licensing apps will not be approved, the ministry said. Ukraine's suffering has won broad public sympathy in Taiwan as many people see parallels between what is happening in the European country and what could happen if China used force to bring its claimed island under Chinese control.