Russia Publishes a List of "Unfriendly Countries" Including Taiwan 俄不友善國家與地區名單 台灣名列其中

Russia has recently published a list of 43 “unfriendly countries” to place economic restrictions on these countries for imposing sanctions on Russia for attack on Ukraine. The list includes all EU and Nato members as well as other countries, even including Taiwan. Premier Su Tseng-chang said the government will be ready to offer assistances to Taiwan’s businesses and industries affected. Experts analyze that there is likely little impact on Taiwan since Russia is not a main business partner of Taiwan. 

In reaction to various sanctions imposed by western countries around the world, Russia recently published a list of "unfriendly countries" in retaliation. The list includes the U.S., U.K., Switzerland, Japan, Korea, and others, and even Taiwan. On the list, Taiwan is further explained in parentheses that it is considered a territory of China, but ruled by its own administration since 1949. Some people in Taiwan read that as Russia recognizing Taiwan as an independent country.

Su Tseng-chang, Premier: “The whole world knows that Taiwan is an independent country. The government would definitely assist Taiwan's businesses and industries for any impact.”

According to the Russian government, business dealings in Russia involving these "unfriendly countries and regions" will now require special government authorization by the Commission for Control over Foreign Investments. Businesses that have foreign exchange obligations to foreign creditors from those on the list will be able to pay them in rubles. Experts say that although Russia has not banned dealings with foreign countries, Taiwan would suffer when trying to import coal from Russia.

Lee Chun, Senior Deputy Executive Director, Taiwan WTO and RTA Center: “Given the latest development, Taiwan's coal import from Russia would get affected right away. Taiwan usually imports about $5 million to $10 million of coal from Russia annually. It becomes a difficult problem for us now to buy coal from them if we can only pay in rubles.”

Wang Mei-hua, Economic Affairs Minister: “We will set up mechanisms involving cross-agencies if we do encounter difficulties.”

Experts analyze that there is likely little impact on Taiwan since Russia is not a main business partner of Taiwan. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Foreign Affairs said they will make proper arrangements to ensure the stability of the supply chain. The Foreign Affairs also stated that the representative office of Taiwan in Moscow is still in normal operation. 
 

俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭，不少國家祭出經濟制裁，現在俄羅斯也宣布反擊，根據俄羅斯媒體報導，俄羅斯批准一份不友善國家和地區名單，包括美國、英國、瑞士、日本、韓國等，台灣也在其中，更在台灣刮號備註中國，解釋台灣1949年之後由自己的政府統治，這樣的說法也被網友解讀俄羅斯是承認台灣獨立。

行政院長蘇貞昌表:「台灣是個國家，其實全世界都知道，我們對於因為俄羅斯這樣的動作，如果國人同胞產業產生有受到影響，政府自當協助。」

俄國政府指出，根據這項法令，俄國民眾和企業與不友善國家進行交易時均須俄國聯邦政府批准，且一律以俄國貨幣盧布進行支付。學者分析，雖然這項指令沒有禁止交易，但盧布重挫的情況下，台灣衝擊的是進口俄羅斯煤炭。

中經院WTO中心資深副執行長李淳指出:「在這樣的一個條件下，台灣現在首當其衝的大概第一個是煤炭，因為台灣現在從俄羅斯每年進口煤炭，大概從500萬到接近1000萬美金，但是因為指定盧布交易，這樣的一個條件之下，等同於台灣沒有辦法，會很困難再繼續跟俄國進口。

經濟部長王美花表示:「這個部分如果有發生困難，我們會有相關的跨部會的一個機制。」

由於俄羅斯並不是我國的主要貿易對象，學者分析衝擊不大，經濟部跟外交部表示都會做好各項評估因應，確保供應鏈不受影響。至於駐俄羅斯代表處會不會受到影響，外交部強調目前運作一切正常。