My Take | Probe finds Taiwan’s nitrocellulose exports to Russia for gunpowder have skyrocketed
- Mainland China is sanctioned for selling dual-use civilian materials, but island supplier of key explosive for artillery shells appears to get friendly advice to redirect sales to EU
Another day, another round of sanctions imposed against Hong Kong and mainland China. The excuse? The United States, Britain and the European Union claim some companies from both places are supplying Russia with dual-use civilian materials and components that could have military applications.
Well, a hammer and a screwdriver can be used as lethal weapons in the wrong hands. Diesel can be used to fuel tanks, cargo trucks or some Volkswagens.
What about nitrocellulose? Now that’s mostly for military use, especially if you are selling it to Russia these days. It’s the essential compound used in modern gunpowder, especially for artillery shells and rocket systems, and it has been selling at a premium across Europe for obvious reasons.
And Taiwan has been supplying a whopping 20 per cent of the stuff to Russia since the war started in Ukraine. That’s according to a new joint investigation by the London-based Royal United Services Institute and Ukraine’s Centre for Defence Strategies.
Investigators have especially singled out one company, T.N.C. Industrial Co, based in Taoyuan City, Taiwan. It’s not clear whether T.N.C. accounts for all 20 per cent of Russian supply, or other companies on the island are involved, but not named.