NOTE: This article has been republished due to the recent Iranian missile strikes on Israel to inform the readership of Taiwan’s flexible relationship with countries considered terrorist sponsored states, including North Korea.
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This is part of a series of deep dives on Taiwan companies operating with Iran to export nuclear weapon/missile technology.
Taiwan has a far more intimate relationship with Iran than the folks in D.C. would believe, as will become obvious with Part 2, 3, and onwards.
Taiwan's Iranian Problem
Part One: Introduction
18 November 2023
By Wendell Minnick (Whiskey Mike) 顏文德
NOTE TO READER: Research was begun on this series of article with the below request to my readership on 7 September 2023, “Urgent Request to My Readership: I Need Any Data on Iran in Taiwan.” For the sake of transparency, this article was not motivated by the Hamas-Israeli conflict that started a full month later on 7 October.
TAIPEI - Iranian relations with Taiwan are far more vibrant than transparent, but with some digging China In Arms has located some data on this relationship, which will become darker with Part 2, 3, etc.
Photographs of site visits are required by the rules of journalism. So my Part 2 photographs have already been processed and the article awaits editing.
Taiwan’s government does not share any of the ethics and values that factor in U.S. sanctions of countries that are human rights violators and/or countries producing weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Taiwan’s fight for human rights with the rise of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) only applies to themselves.
A few years ago, I did find a North Korean front company, Unicorn, and wrote about the complexity of the various outlets in Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing and finally Pyongyang, to establish the Korea International Chamber of Commerce (KICC) in Luzhou District, New Taipei City. It is still operational today. The Taiwan government simply does not care about U.S. concerns.
Iran and North Korea need the “silicon valley” of Asia and with TSMC and other computer giants on the island; rascals in the nefarious world NEED Taiwan’s expertise. Without it, no nuclear bombs for New York on Christmas.
China In Arms visited businesses in Taiwan to confirm whether if the rumors were true, id est Taiwan is sleeping with the devil.
And by doing so, not only endangering the Free World, but probably, since the 7 October massacre of Israelis by Iranian-supported Hamas terrorists, gaining the attention of the Israeli intelligence services.
Taiwan’s only problem with working with Iran, particularly Taiwan’s vast advanced computer industry, is Taipei’s dependence on the U.S. for military assistance.
Below is the introduction of rudimentary Taiwan-Iran business relations.
The below screen shots of Iran’s Financial Tribune demonstrates a robust financial connection to Taiwan:
The question of whether Iran has a semi-official “trade office” in Taiwan, like many countries that do not recognize Taiwan as a nation-state, are unanswered in this report. However, it could be operating out of offices for Qatar in Taipei, as there seems to be some paperwork connections.
2017 - Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA):
Though the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) established a Taiwan Trade Center for commercial business in Iran (4F, No. 47, Banisi St., Nelson Mandela Blvd., Tehran), this should not be considered abnormal outside the U.S. where most nations simply ignore U.S. fears of Iranian hegemony in the Middle East.
In 2017, TAITRA sent a delegation to Iran to foster commercial trade; see PDF:
3.36MB ∙ PDF Download:
The delegation spent two days in Tehran (15-16 September 2017) and met at the Homa Hotel, Zoomed Hall, for trade discussions.
Though there were Taipei City government officials on the trip, the mission leader was Lawrence Lin, Managing Director, Luxy Star Electronics Inc. (耀晶電子有限公司; 林耀池 總經理). Additional Background Data: Managing Director, September 2014 - Present; Languages - English, Germany, Japanese.
The deputy mission leader was Ms. Geinei Liu (劉菁琳) Product Marketing Manager, Yeh Sheng Powder Parts Industry Co. Ltd. (冶聖工業股份有限公司; 劉菁琳 產品行銷經理).
Taipei Government Organizers Listed in PDF:
Mr. Ellis Chang/Commissioner, New Taipei City Government, Economic Development Department, 新北市政府經濟發展局, 張峯源 局長.
Mr. Terry Ko/Director, New Taipei City Government, Economic Development Department, Investment Division, 新北市政府經濟發展局, 柯天祥 科長.
Ms. Lily Huang/Executive Officer, New Taipei City Government, Economic Development Department, Investment Division, 新北市政府經濟發展局, 黃麗蓉 科員
Ms. Karen Lin/Executive Officer, New Taipei City Government, Economic Development Department, Investment Division, 新北市政府經濟發展局, 林冠儀 科員. Additional Background Data: Kuan-Yi Karen Lin; Ministry of Science and Technology, July 2019 - Present; Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Taiwan, June 2018 - July 2019; New Taipei City Government, March - June 2018; Policy Development, New Taipei City Government, August 2017 - February 2018; Public relations, Economic Department of New Taipei City Government, July 2017 - September 2017.
Mr. Philip Ting-Tsun Huang/Deputy Executive Director, Taiwan External Trade Development Council, Marketing Development Department, TAITRA, 中華民國對外發展協會, 黃汀村 副處長.
Ms. Lily Lai / Project Manager, Taiwan External Trade Development Council, Marketing Development Department, TAITRA, 中華民國對外貿易發展協會, 賴鈴琍 專員.
Other companies attending, except for CviCloud and possibly System Integration Pro Tech, appear harmless:
Ching Yuang Enterprise Co., Ltd. (青暘企業股份有限公司)
CviCloud Corporation (瀚雲科技有限公司): Products - Apple Homekit (Smart Home), Apple iPhone/iPad Accessory, Token/Smart Card and Encryption Device, Smart Phone Accessory
Globe Lock And Hardware Inc. (詠悅有限公司)
Liang's Industrial Corporation (櫻梅貿易股份有限公司)
Ligitek Electronics Co., Ltd. (立碁電子工業股份有限公司)
Polymax Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (寰通精密工業股份有限公司)
Shyh Ru Metallic Industrial Corp. (世如金屬股份有限公司)
Sun Mines Electrics Co., Ltd. (三敏電機股份有限公司)
System Integration Pro Tech Inc. (優益系統科技股份有限公司): Products - 3U VPX Computer/Micro DC Motor/Connectors/Cable Assembly/UV Sterilization Equipment
TAITRA lists the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (TCCIMA) as an international partner with a Taiwan office in Tehran:
Taiwan Trade Center, Tehran; Contact: Director, Arthur J. C. Sun; March 2022 - Present; https://tehran.taiwantrade.com; 4F, No. 47, Banisi Street, Nelson Mandela Blvd, Tehran, Iran; Jurisdiction: Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan.
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