Feeling In The Same Boat, Taiwan Tightens Technology Exports To Russia

Taiwan limits technology exports to Russia. (photo: pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Taiwanese government said on Wednesday, April 6 that it was tightening restrictions on exports to Russia. This was done as part of sanctions against the country for its invasion of Ukraine. They also detailed rules to prevent the use of technology and chips for military purposes.

Taiwan has condemned the Russian attack and has joined the Western-led sanctions effort. But these sanctions are said to be largely symbolic because there is little direct trade between the island nation and Russia.

Taiwan's cabinet said in an announcement that any company wishing to export a long list of technology-related goods to Russia would need to seek government permission.

According to the Taiwan Cabinet, the move has been taken to prevent Taiwanese industries from exporting high-tech goods to Russia for the production of military weapons.

The list includes equipment for making semiconductors, of which Taiwan is a world leader in production, as well as lasers and navigation systems.

Taiwan's Ministry of Economy added in a separate statement that it "urges industry to follow export control laws, carry out due diligence before exporting, and avoid exporting products from the 'Russian export list' that could be used for weapons proliferation to Russia without approval".

They have produced a list based on what other allied countries are doing and in total includes 57 "controlled items".

A US official said last week that Taiwan's TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, had exited the Russian market. They also cut off Moscow's SPARC Technology Center's access to Elbrus chips, which are widely used in the Russian military and intelligence systems.

Russia's plight of Ukraine has won widespread public sympathy in Taiwan because of what many see as a parallel between what is happening in Europe and what could happen if China uses its military might to bring the island it claims as its own back under control. China.