Taiwan’s defence minister Wellington Koo has downplayed the impact of Chinese sanctions on seven European companies over arms sales to the island, saying the measures will not affect Taipei’s ability to procure weapons.

Wellington Koo told lawmakers on Monday that the move was not unprecedented and would not disrupt Taiwan’s defence sourcing.

“However, I think such an action, as I understand it, does not affect our ability to continue sourcing goods through relevant diversified channels,” he said in parliament.

China Targets European Firms

China’s Commerce Ministry on Friday banned exports of dual-use items to seven European companies, placing them on its export control list in a rare instance of Europe-focused sanctions linked to Taiwan.

Four of the firms are based in the Czech Republic, highlighting Beijing’s growing focus on Central and Eastern Europe, where Taiwan has found increasing political support in recent years.

Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory and has repeatedly imposed sanctions on foreign firms involved in arms sales to the island.

Limited Impact on Taiwan’s Defence Supply

Taiwan relies heavily on the United States for its military equipment, while European nations have largely avoided selling major systems such as fighter jets for decades, wary of provoking China.

Officials in Taipei say this latest move is unlikely to alter that dynamic, given the island’s diversified procurement channels and long-standing reliance on U.S. defence ties.

Japan Angle Remains Uncertain

The issue of alternative suppliers was raised after Japan recently relaxed restrictions on overseas arms exports.

Asked whether Taiwan could benefit from the shift, Koo said such transfers would require a formal defence equipment agreement with Tokyo something that does not currently exist.

“In the future, no possibility can be ruled out,” he said, while noting that no such framework is in place at present.

Regional Tensions Persist

China’s sanctions come amid broader geopolitical tensions, with Beijing expressing concern over expanding defence cooperation between Taiwan and its partners.

Relations between China and Japan have also deteriorated, particularly after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.

(with inputs from Reuters)