Taipei, Jan. 4 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on Wednesday announced the expansion of its sanctions against Russia and its ally Belarus, effective immediately, in a bid to prevent the two countries from using Taiwan-made high-tech items for military purposes in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.The newly imposed sanctions against Russia and Belarus are expanded from the sanctions introduced in April and May 2022, which largely covered computer and information communications products, sensors, laser goods and aerospace items, according to the MOEA.The move by the ministry to expand sanctions against Moscow and Minsk is in line with restrictions imposed by like-minded countries of such as the United States and the European Union, the ministry added.The ministry held meetings with local industrial associations and Taiwanese small and medium sized exporters that have major buyers in Russia and Belarus at the end of last year to discuss the need for Taiwan to impose more sanctions on the two countries.The Bureau of Foreign Trade and the government-sponsored trade group Taiwan External Trade Development Council have contacted Taiwanese exporters that will be affected by the new sanctions and indicated a willingness to help them minimize the impact of the new export restrictions."