Taiwan Becomes World's Largest Russian Naphtha Importer Despite Ukraine Alliance and US Ties

Naphtha is a critical petrochemical industry feedstock that serves as a fundamental component in semiconductor manufacturing.

Taiwan, which positions itself as America's strongest Asian ally against Chinese pressure, has emerged as the world's leading importer of Russian naphtha. Despite declaring itself a Ukraine ally and joining Western sanctions against Russia following the 2023 invasion, Taipei has significantly increased its imports of this vital petroleum derivative.

According to a report by The Guardian, Taiwan imported $1.3 billion worth of Russian naphtha during the first half of 2025. The report indicates that Taiwan's monthly imports have surged to nearly six times higher than 2022 averages, with a 44 percent increase compared to the first half of 2024.

These findings come from a comprehensive study published by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, a Finnish think tank, working alongside a consortium of European, Russian, and Taiwanese NGOs. The timing is particularly notable as the Trump administration has recently imposed 25 percent tariffs on India specifically targeting its imports of discounted Russian crude oil.

India ranks as the second-largest destination for Russian seaborne naphtha exports, having imported over 1.4 million tonnes of Russian crude oil products in the first half of 2025. Unlike Taiwan, however, Indian imports have faced punitive measures from the United States.

Naphtha serves as an essential feedstock in petrochemical manufacturing, producing olefins and aromatics that become the building blocks for plastics, synthetic resins, fibers, and various chemicals crucial to semiconductor production.

Taiwan has consistently emphasized its support for Ukraine since the war began. The island nation has implemented export controls to prevent its high-technology equipment from supporting Russia's military operations. On Sunday, Taiwan's foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, signed an agreement in Poland supporting Ukrainian children affected by the Russian invasion.

Despite these diplomatic gestures, Taiwan continues purchasing billions of dollars of discounted Russian crude products. US President Trump has urged countries to cease Russian oil purchases, arguing they fuel Russia's war efforts.

The US-Taiwan relationship dates back to the Cold War era when Taiwan hosted American military bases under a mutual defense treaty. Though official relations were severed in 1979 when the US recognized Beijing instead of Taipei, their relationship has since been governed by the Taiwan Relations Act, which provides legal grounds for supplying Taiwan with defensive capabilities without explicitly committing to military intervention.

While the United States has traditionally maintained "strategic ambiguity" regarding potential military defense of Taiwan, former President Joe Biden stated in 2022 that he would be willing to use force to defend the island.

The US maintains military personnel in Taiwan for training purposes and hosts Taiwanese F-16 pilots at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Senior defense officials from Taiwan regularly visit the United States, and intelligence sharing continues between the nations. The American Institute in Taiwan serves as a de facto US embassy in Taipei, while Taiwan maintains the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office as its unofficial embassy in the United States.