Russia imported, despite sanctions, high-tech equipment from Taiwan. The Russian company I Machine Technology received computer numerical control (CNC) machines worth $20 million from the Taiwanese I Machine Tools. During 2023.
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This is stated in an investigation by The Washington Post.
The company’s management tried to direct these efforts to ensure mass production of attack drones in Russia.
I Machine Technology’s largest client last year was the Moscow Avangard Machine-Building Plant, a supplier of missiles for the S-400 air defense systems. The Russian company also tried to supply equipment to an enterprise that mass-produces attack drones.
At first, the machines went directly from Taiwan to Russia, and after the Taiwanese government imposed sanctions, the goods went through a roundabout route through Turkey or China.
In January 2023, Taiwan expanded restrictions on cooperation with Russia by including some CNC machines on the sanctions list. The Taiwanese government plans to ban Taiwanese companies from selling their products to I Machine Technology over concerns it could be used for weapons production.
At WP’s request, researchers at the Washington Institute of Science and International Security reviewed the investigation and found that several machine models were likely subject to export controls, but the final decision would be up to the Taiwanese government.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.