Tuesday July 29, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Taiwan has rejected China’s condemnation of its recent maritime cooperation agreement with Somaliland, calling Beijing’s objections baseless and reaffirming its commitment to regional security and international partnerships.
In a statement issued Monday, Taiwan's Representative Office in Hargeisa said the agreement is part of a broader effort to bolster maritime safety and advance Somaliland’s goal of maintaining a coastline free from foreign interference.
“This multilateral platform helps pursue the strategic goal of a Non-Red Somaliland Coastline for the foundation of a Blue Economy,” the statement said, adding that Taiwan “stands ready to further coordinate with the USA, UK, EU and other regional partners when it comes to maintaining stability and rule-based international order in the Horn of Africa.”
The Chinese Embassy in Mogadishu had earlier denounced the agreement as a violation of the One China principle, warning it could threaten China’s territorial integrity. But Taiwan urged China to end “bullying acts” and abandon “hostile rhetoric and cognitive warfare aiming to destabilize the region.”
“The Taiwan Representative Office in the Republic of Somaliland urges the Chinese Embassy in Somalia to stop its bullying acts and truly uphold the values of peace and stability in the Horn of Africa,” the statement read.
Taiwan reaffirmed its sovereignty, emphasizing that neither Taiwan nor China is subordinate to the other and that “the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has NEVER governed Taiwan for a second.” It stressed that Taiwan has operated independently since 1949 and rejected any attempt by the PRC to claim historical legitimacy.
“Taiwan is a sovereign nation, in no way subject to China nor its Beijing regime,” the statement said. “China’s attempts to block Taiwan and Somaliland’s international cooperation are unacceptable.”
Taiwan also addressed Beijing’s repeated references to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, which recognizes the PRC as the legitimate government of China at the UN. Taiwan clarified that the resolution does not mention Taiwan, nor does it affirm any Chinese claim over the island.
“Only the democratically elected government of Taiwan has the right to represent the Taiwanese people,” it added.
Taiwan’s position aligns with that of several Western democracies. “The G7 countries had also repeatedly voiced their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo of the Taiwan Strait, whether by force or by coercion,” the statement noted.
Somaliland, in a separate response, defended the pact as a legitimate bilateral agreement focused on strengthening maritime security and development. Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adan stated that the deal poses no threat to China’s interests and emphasized Somaliland’s sovereign right to establish international partnerships.
“Our engagement with Taiwan serves the interests of our people and our region,” Adan said. “It’s a security and development partnership.”
Taiwan and Somaliland established diplomatic ties in 2020 and maintain representative offices in each other’s capitals. Though neither is formally recognized by the United Nations, both continue to expand their international engagements despite pressure from Beijing.
“This office categorically rejects China’s false claims of territorial sovereignty that completely distort the fundamental truth,” the statement concluded.