Taiwan to restrict imports of Russian oil following accusations of record purchases
Photo: Taiwan plans to impose restrictions on imports of Russian oil (Getty Images)
The Taiwanese government will urge domestic companies to limit imports of oil and petroleum products from Russia in accordance with sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union, according to the press service of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry responded to media reports claiming that Taiwan had become a major importer of Russian energy resources.
"The import of Russian petrochemical feedstock mentioned in the media reports is currently not subject to restrictions imposed by the Taiwanese government. However, all state-owned enterprises in Taiwan stopped purchasing Russian crude oil and related products in 2023," the statement said.
At the same time, the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the authorities would continue close coordination with the US, the EU, and other democratic countries to ensure compliance with anti-Russian sanctions.
"If international partners impose additional restrictions on Russian energy or other products, Taiwan will actively cooperate, demonstrating its firm commitment to counter aggression and defend the international order," the ministry added.
As global sanctions continue to evolve, the ministry will further review relevant restrictive measures and consult with domestic producers.
The statement added that since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Taiwan has implemented strict export controls on high-tech goods to Russia. Currently, more than 3,300 Russian companies are on Taiwan’s blacklist, with all cooperation strictly prohibited.
Accusations against Taiwan
According to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), the Environmental Rights Foundation (ERF), Ecodefense, and Urgewald, Taiwan’s imports of Russian oil have increased nearly sixfold, generating billions of dollars in revenue for the Kremlin — enough to fund the production of hundreds of thousands of drones.
Since 2022, Russian oil imports to Taiwan have reportedly increased almost sixfold, generating $1.7 billion in revenue for Russia, an amount researchers said could finance the production of 170,000 “Geran” drones.
Such trade, analysts warn, could strain Taiwan’s diplomatic relations with countries enforcing sanctions against Russia and its energy exports.
