Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – The Chinese Embassy in Somalia issued a strong condemnation on Monday over a recent "Coast Guard Cooperation Deal" signed between Somaliland and Taiwan, warning that such actions violate the one-China principle and could trigger international consequences.
The embassy’s spokesperson said the agreement blatantly undermines China’s sovereignty and unity, accusing the Somaliland regional authority of seeking political legitimacy by aligning with Taiwan — an effort Beijing described as “self-deceiving and futile.”
“There is but one China in the world,” the spokesperson stated. “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legal government representing the whole of China.”
The Chinese side emphasized that Taiwan "has never been a country — not in the past, and never in the future,” and cited international legal frameworks such as the 1943 Cairo Declaration, the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation, and UNGA Resolution 2758 (1971), which reaffirm China’s claim over Taiwan and exclude any scenario of “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”
“Somaliland is a part of Somalia’s territory,” the spokesperson added, warning that any official interactions or institutions established between Somaliland and Taiwan would be rejected by Beijing. “We urge the Somaliland regional authority to have the basic sense about the reality and refrain from running against the historical trend, so as to free itself from self-inflicted consequences.”
The statement comes amid ongoing diplomatic coordination between Taiwan and Somaliland, both of which maintain informal representative offices in each other's territories — moves not recognized by the United Nations, African Union, or Somalia’s Federal Government, which maintains full diplomatic relations with China.
Beijing reiterated its support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling the Taiwan-Somaliland deal a direct challenge to global stability and the international order.
