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In a blunt rebuke that has reverberated across diplomatic channels, Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has issued a pointed message on X, declaring: “China has no right to dictate who we have relationships with, as we have no right to dictate who they have relationships with.”
The statement comes as the Taiwan Representative Office in Hargeisa has also fired back at Beijing’s increasingly aggressive posturing with a statement that leaves little room for misinterpretation: “Neither Taiwan nor China is subordinate to the other, and China has never governed Taiwan for a second.”
This unified front marks the latest chapter in the ongoing diplomatic tug-of-war that has intensified since Somaliland and Taiwan formalized relations in 2020, much to Beijing’s consternation.
Rejecting Beijing’s Pressure Tactics
Somaliland’s firm stance comes after Chinese Ambassador to Somalia, Wang Yu, escalated tensions by stating in an interview with a local Somali news outlet: “I strongly condemn Somaliland for strengthening its ties with Taiwan. Taiwan is not a country; it is a part of China. We have taken countermeasures against Hargeisa. There is significant cooperation between China and Somalia.”
The Ambassador’s explicit mention of “countermeasures” represents an unusually direct threat from Chinese diplomacy, which typically shrouds punitive actions in more ambiguous language. The statement also underscores Beijing’s strategy of leveraging its relationship with Mogadishu as a counterweight to Somaliland’s independent foreign policy.
This diplomatic confrontation follows the Chinese Embassy in Mogadishu issuing yet another condemnation in May 2024, labeling Somaliland’s ties with Taiwan a “violation” of the increasingly threadbare “One-China Principle.”
Sources close to the Somaliland government revealed to Somaliland Chronicle that Chinese officials had attempted to sweeten the deal by dangling the prospect of a liaison office in Hargeisa and vague promises of development assistance—if only Somaliland would abandon Taiwan. The offer was promptly rebuffed.
“The ‘One-China Principle’ and the ‘One-Somalia Principle’ are outdated clichés that bear no resemblance to ground realities,” a senior official at Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told this newspaper on condition of anonymity. “Neither Taiwan nor Somaliland is subordinate to China or Somalia. That era is finished.”
China has intensified its pressure campaign against Somaliland, employing political, economic, and diplomatic tactics. Chinese officials have issued explicit warnings regarding Somaliland’s relationship with Taiwan, with Ambassador Wang Yu emphasizing that “there is only one China in the world; Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.”
The economic pressure has been equally direct. In response to Somaliland’s diplomatic shift towards Taiwan, Chinese businesses that had previously established a presence in Somaliland abruptly withdrew, leaving gaps in various sectors of the economy. This move is perceived as an attempt by Beijing to exert economic pressure on Hargeisa.
China’s actions form part of a broader strategy to isolate Taiwan internationally and deter other nations from establishing formal relations with Taipei. The pressure exerted on Somaliland serves as a cautionary example to other countries considering similar diplomatic engagements.
Political Pragmatism and Mutual Benefits
While Somaliland’s current government expressed reservations about the choice of Taiwan over China when they were in opposition and during the presidential campaign, it has since fully embraced the bilateral relationship established under former President Muse Bihi Abdi’s administration. This pragmatic shift suggests a recognition of the tangible benefits the Taiwan partnership has delivered to Somaliland, overriding any previous political hesitations.
Similarly, political transitions in Taipei have done little to disturb the foundations of the relationship, with Taiwan maintaining consistent support despite its own complex domestic politics. “We appreciated G7 Foreign Ministers recently supported Taiwan by opposing any unilateral attempts to change the status quo of the Taiwan Strait whether by force or by coercion,” the Taiwan Representative Office stated, signaling growing international discomfort with Beijing’s military posturing.
The relationship, initially endorsed by the Trump White House in 2020, appears positioned for continued support as President Trump returns to office. U.S. Congressman Mike Smith has described China’s attempts to isolate Taiwan and pressure Somaliland as “counterproductive and alarming”—diplomatic speak for strong disapproval.
“Under the Trump administration, the White House National Security Council openly acknowledged and praised the new relationship between Somaliland and Taiwan in 2020,” the Taiwan Representative Office reminded observers, strategically emphasizing the continuity with the incoming administration.
While the diplomatic gamesmanship captures headlines, the Taiwan-Somaliland partnership has delivered concrete benefits that transcend symbolic gestures. Taiwan’s investments in Hargeisa’s healthcare infrastructure have significantly improved medical capacity, while educational exchanges have provided Somalilanders with technical training opportunities previously unavailable.
The establishment of a vegetable farm demonstration project in Arabsiyo has introduced advanced agricultural technologies that boost local food production capabilities—practical advantages that underscore why Somaliland continues to resist Beijing’s pressure campaign.
For Taiwan, Somaliland’s strategic position near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints—offers significant geopolitical value as China continues its military expansion throughout the Indian Ocean region.
Looking Ahead: Regional Stability and International Recognition
The Taiwan Representative Office raised particular alarm about what it described as the “weaponization” of humanitarian assistance “to fuel internal conflicts and cognitive warfare to further destabilize the region.” The statement concluded with an appeal: “We urge China to cease its provocation and truly uphold the values of peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.”
As Somaliland’s democratic credentials continue to impress international observers following the 2024 Presidential Election, both Taiwan and Somaliland see their partnership as a potential catalyst for broader international recognition.
“We are glad to see more and more democratic like-minded partners endorsing the values of Taiwan-Somaliland relationship,” the Taiwan Representative Office noted. “We believe that Taiwan-Somaliland relationship can catalyze more international support for both nations.”
Despite formidable opposition from Beijing and Mogadishu, the Taiwan-Somaliland relationship has evolved into something more significant than a mere diplomatic arrangement between two unrecognized states. It represents a defiant statement that even smaller nations can chart independent courses when fundamental interests are at stake—regardless of how loudly larger powers might protest.
