Taiwan representative, bumps elbows while posing with Taiwan’s
Foreign Minister Joseph Wu during the opening ceremony of the
Somaliland representative office in Taipei on September 9, 2020.
(Photo by Sam Yeh / AFP)
Somaliland opened a representative office in Taiwan
Wednesday as the unrecognised but de facto sovereign territories
deepen a relationship that has sparked angry rebukes from both
China and Somalia.
Taiwan and Somaliland have grown closer in recent years, finding
common ground in their peculiar and isolated international
status.
Both are thriving self-run democracies that remain mostly
unrecognised by the wider world.
“The bilateral accord between Somaliland and Taiwan is based on
common values of freedom and democracy,” Somalil and representative
Mohamed Hagi said at a ceremony in Taipei.
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Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one
day seize it, by force if needed. Only 15 countries diplomatically
recognise Taiwan over Beijing, although many nations maintain
embassy equivalent trade offices in Taipei.
Somaliland, meanwhile, declared independence from Somalia during
the 1991 civil war and has thrived as a comparative beacon of
stability. While some nations maintain informal ties with Hargeisa,
Somaliland is not diplomatically recognised by any other
nation.
Last month Taiwan opened an office in Somaliland.
Somalia described the move as a “reckless attempt” to infringe
on its sovereignty, while Beijing accused Taipei of separatism and
acting with “desperation”.
Hagi pushed back at that criticism on Wednesday.
“From Somaliland’s perspective we are independent,” he told
reporters.
“We are happy to make relations with Taiwan and other countries,
to build economic relations. There is not any threat to China.”
Taiwan has been engaged in a diplomatic tug-of-war with Beijing
for decades in which each side tries to woo the other’s allies with
financial and other incentives.
Since the election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, Beijing
has poached seven allies as part of a wider campaign to isolate
Taipei.
Beijing loathes Tsai because she regards Taiwan as “already
independent” and not part of one China.
AFP
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