TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) on Monday played down the impact of Beijing’s sanctions on seven European companies over arms sales to Taiwan and said they would not hinder Taipei’s ability to procure weapons.
China's Commerce Ministry on Friday said it would impose export control measures on seven EU entities involved in arms sales to Taiwan or that “have colluded with Taiwan authorities,” per ETtoday. It added that, effective immediately, all Chinese companies are prohibited from exporting dual-use items to those seven firms.
During a session of the Legislative Yuan, Koo said such actions by China were not unprecedented. “However, I think such an action, as I understand it, does not affect our ability to continue sourcing goods through relevant diversified channels,” per Reuters.
While many countries, particularly in Europe, remain wary of defense cooperation with Taiwan for fear of Chinese retaliation, Taipei has been gaining a more receptive audience in parts of Central and Eastern Europe, especially following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Notably, four of the seven firms newly targeted by China are Czech, Reuters reported.
DPP Legislator Loh Mei-ling (羅美玲) noted that Japan has shifted its policy to allow arms exports and has signed equipment and technology transfer agreements with 17 countries, a number that could rise to 20 with pending deals, per UDN. Given that Taiwan and Japan are both part of the First Island Chain and share similar needs in maritime and aerial surveillance as well as air defense, she asked whether Taiwan could seek to procure Japanese equipment.
Koo replied that no such agreement currently exists between Taiwan and Japan. Pressed by Loh on whether this was a future possibility, Koo said Taiwan cannot rule out any possibility, but “We can only say that there is currently no such transfer agreement.”
