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Taiwan
ChinaDiplomacy

Beijing may tolerate Taiwan’s presence in Somaliland – unless it turns political, observers say

  • Analysts say Beijing can abide Taipei having a commercial representative office in Somaliland but not diplomatic ties
  • Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen describes shared values of ‘freedom, democracy, justice and the rule of law’

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Taiwanese Representative Lou Chen-hua, left, and Somaliland's foreign minister Yasin Hagi Mohamoud jointly open Taiwan's representative office in Hargeisa, capital of Somaliland, on August 17, 2020. Foreign ministers from both countries signed an agreementfor technical cooperation between the two countries through a video link-up. Somaliland is a self-declared republic, but many countries still see it as part of Somalia. Photo: Handout
Jevans Nyabiage
Beijing may not fight the decision by Taiwan to establish a representative office in Somaliland if the relationship is restricted to commercial ties and not political or diplomatic, analysts say.

On Monday, the Taiwanese flag was hoisted in Hargeisa, the capital of the breakaway region of Somaliland in northwest Somalia, marking the official establishment of a representative office in Somaliland.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen called the opening of a representative office, “an important milestone for the Taiwan-Somaliland partnership”.

“We are bound together by our shared values of freedom, democracy, justice and the rule of law, ideals that will guide our future cooperation,” Tsai said, promising that Taipei would work with Somaliland in areas including agriculture, fisheries, energy, mining, public health, education and information and communications technology (ICT).

Somaliland Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Yasin Hagi Mohamoud said Somaliland was due to open its representative office in Taipei in the next few weeks. Mohamoud travelled to Taipei in July to sign an agreement ahead of the opening of the offices.

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