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Taiwan-China Diplomatic Competition Comes to Somaliland

Adrianna Zhang

   Somaliland, a self-declared independent region of Somalia in east
   Africa, has formally recognized Taiwan, another government that lacks
   United Nations recognition.

   The establishment of ties between the two self-governing territories
   provides a boost to Taiwan, which for years has waged a losing battle
   against Beijing to win or maintain the diplomatic recognition of small
   nations.

   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."

   "In the spirit of mutual assistance for mutual benefit, Taiwan and
   Somaliland will engage in cooperation in areas such as fisheries,
   agriculture, energy, mining, public health, education" and technology,
   Wu said.

   In a tweet responding to the news, Somaliland's President Muse Bihi
   Abdi said the "Representative Office will be opened soon in Taiwan."

     Republic of Somaliland & its delegation are grateful for your warm
     welcome earlier in Taiwan. Excellency, as you expressed, the
     bilateral relationship of [1]#Somaliland and [2]#Taiwan is built
     upon shared values & mutual respect. Our Representative Office will
     be opened soon in Taiwan. [3]https://t.co/pu618ZlDE7
     -- Muse Bihi Abdi (@musebiihi) [4]July 1, 2020

   Somaliland is a self-declared state, internationally considered to be
   an autonomous region of Somalia. China claims Taiwan as its own
   territory and is opposed to the island's membership in the United
   Nations.

   China cuts off diplomatic ties with countries that recognize Taiwan, a
   tactic that has left Taipei shut out of most international forums and
   with just 15 diplomatic allies.

   In responding to the announcements, Chinese foreign ministry
   spokesperson Zhao Lijian accused Taiwan on Monday of "undermining
   Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity." [5]China maintains
   ties with the Somali government in Mogadishu and does not recognize the
   Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign state.

   "China firmly opposes Taiwan and Somaliland establishing an official
   agency or having any form of official exchanges," Zhao told reporters
   at a daily briefing in Beijing.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/hashtag/Somaliland?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   2. https://twitter.com/hashtag/Taiwan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   3. https://t.co/pu618ZlDE7
   4. https://twitter.com/musebiihi/status/1278278673959919621?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   5. http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/fyrth/t1795337.htm