Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs has added Huawei Technologies Co and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC, 中芯国际) to its export control entity list, as part of an extensive update targeting 601 entities involved in proliferation activities.
According to the official press release issued by the International Trade Administration on 15 June 2025, the update follows a cross-ministerial review conducted under the authority of Article 13 of Taiwan’s Trade Act.
The latest update brings the total number of listed entities and individuals to 10,844.
The selection process considers sanction and control lists issued by the United Nations Security Council and allied countries, according to the statement.
The 601 newly listed entities span several countries, including Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Myanmar, and China. Among these, prominent Chinese technology firms Huawei and SMIC have been included due to concerns over their potential involvement in proliferation activities.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs emphasised that the decision reflects broader national security considerations and the need to prevent the proliferation of weapons.
Under Taiwan’s export regulations, domestic companies are required to obtain a Strategic High-Tech Commodities Export Permit from the International Trade Administration before engaging in any transactions with entities on the list.
Customs authorities will enforce these regulations at the border. Any attempts to export controlled items to listed entities without the proper authorisation will result in the shipment being blocked.
The Ministry urged Taiwanese companies to strictly comply with export control laws, conduct thorough due diligence, and carefully assess transaction risks to avoid inadvertently participating in proliferation-related activities.
The International Trade Administration also indicated that it will continue to hold outreach and informational sessions to help companies better understand and comply with the export control regulations.
The move signals Taiwan’s heightened vigilance over technology transfers that could potentially support military or proliferation-related activities in sensitive regions.
By adding Huawei and SMIC, both crucial to China’s advanced semiconductor development, Taiwan is taking a firm stance on controlling the flow of sensitive technologies.
Huawei and SMIC are key players in China’s ongoing efforts to develop domestic capabilities in high-end semiconductor manufacturing, particularly for artificial intelligence and advanced computing.
The addition of these companies to Taiwan’s entity list follows similar restrictions imposed by several other nations, reflecting increasing global scrutiny.
This action also occurs within a broader context of escalating cross-strait tensions.
Earlier in 2025, Taiwan’s President William Lai publicly characterised China as a “foreign hostile force” for the first time, introducing a suite of counter-infiltration measures aimed at bolstering Taiwan’s national security posture.
The Ministry’s press release concluded by reiterating the importance of strict compliance and proactive risk management among exporters to uphold Taiwan’s commitments to non-proliferation and international security standards.
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