Taiwan Becomes the World’s Largest Importer of Russian Oil Despite Supporting Ukraine
In late April 2024, global analysts observed a surprising and counterintuitive development: Taiwan, a key supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, unexpectedly became the world’s largest importer of Russian oil.
This paradoxical situation highlights the complex interplay of geopolitics and economic interests.
Over recent months, the island in the Pacific managed to increase its imports of Russian petroleum derivatives by 44% compared to the first half of 2024, reaching over one billion dollars from January to June 2025.
According to The Guardian, the monthly import volumes soared nearly six times higher than the average in 2022.
Despite publicly endorsing sanctions against Moscow and supporting Ukraine, Taiwan’s economic activities tell a different story.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Taiwan has imported 6.8 million tons of Russian oil worth approximately 4.9 billion dollars, accounting for about 20% of Russia’s total oil exports.
Major Taiwanese companies, such as Taiwan Cement Corporation, which had previously announced complete cessation of cooperation with Russia regarding coal imports, still engaged in substantial trade, importing over 10 million tons annually, nearly a fifth of Taiwan’s coal imports.
This situation reveals the internal contradictions and nuanced diplomatic balancing act Taiwan continues to perform.
While ticketed as a democratic supporter and an advocate of international sanctions, the economic ties with Russia—especially in energy—remain deeply intertwined, illustrating the complexities of global geopolitics where economic necessity often challenges political rhetoric.