Taiwan tightens Russia export curbs, details tech rules

Sparc Technologies

06/04/2022 11:08

TAIPEI, April 6 (Reuters) - Taiwan's government said on
Wednesday it was tightening export curbs to Russia as part of
sanctions on the country for its invasion of Ukraine, detailing
rules to prevent technology and chips from being using for
military purposes.
    Taiwan has condemned Russia's attack and already joined the
Western-led sanctions effort, though it is largely symbolic as
there is only minimal direct trade between the island and
Russia.
    Taiwan's Cabinet said in an announcement that any companies
wishing to export a long list of tech-related goods to Russia
would need to seek permission.
    The move has been made "in order to prevent our country from
exporting high-tech goods to Russia for the production of
military weapons", the Cabinet added.
    The list includes equipment for making semiconductors, the
production of which Taiwan is a world leader in, as well as
lasers and navigation systems. 
    The Economy Ministry added in a separate statement that it
"urges industry to follow the export control laws, conduct due
diligence before exporting, and avoid exporting products from
the 'Russian export list' that can be used for weapons
proliferation to Russia without approval".
    It said it had produced the list based upon what other
allied countries were doing and that in total it covered 57
"controlled items".
    A U.S. official said last week that Taiwan's TSMC  2330.TW ,
the world's largest contract chipmaker, had exited the Russian
market, cutting off the Moscow Center of SPARC Technologies'
 SPN.AX  access to Elbrus chips, which are widely used in
Russian intelligence and military systems.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2VX3B5
    Ukraine's plight has won broad public sympathy in Taiwan due
to what many people view as the parallels between what it
happening in the European country and what could happen if China
ever uses force to bring the island it claims as its own
territory under Chinese control.

 (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Kim Coghill)
 ((ben.blanchard@thomsonreuters.com;))