China Still Doubles Down on Breaking Ties Between Somaliland and Taiwan

by Staff editor,

A high-level delegation from China’s foreign affairs ministry has reached Somaliland’s capital yesterday afternoon.The delegation from the African Department of the Ministry will reinforce the DRC’s ambassador to Somalia Qin Jian who’s been in Hargeisa since Saturday.

The newly-arrived three officials and the ambassador are scrambling to persuade President Bihi to cut-off ties with Taiwan.

Officials at Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have welcomed the three Chinese officials that came straight from Beijing.

Somaliland’s government has not yet commented on possible meeting between the president and the Chinese delegation or its outcome.

Somaliland and Taiwan have announced that they will exchange diplomatic representatives last month.

Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu said in a statement on July 1 that the two governments had agreed to establish ties based on “friendship and a shared commitment to common values of freedom, democracy, justice and the rule of law.”

Since then, both countries appointed representatives at each other’s capital.

China swiftly got into action with strong denunciation from China’s embassy in Somalia stressing China’s sovereignty over Taiwan.

China uses its global clout to cut off Taiwan diplomatic relations effectively reducing it to mere fifteen allies. One of China’s tactics in this regard is severing diplomatic ties with the countries that recognize Taiwan.

But Since China doesn’t recognize the Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign state, that wouldn’t be possible. Offering developmental aid is reported to be China’s preferred tactic, although no government official has confirmed yet.

The mutual recognition is a welcome breakthrough for Taiwan who lost many allies in the past few years. On the other hand, many in Somaliland consider it the a huge foreign affairs success.
that may lead to more breakthroughs, Hargeisa is especially eyeing The United States, the staunch ally of Taiwan who approved the new diplomatic relationship.