Taiwan and Somaliland establish diplomatic ties, bucking pressure from China

Somaliland, which split away from Somalia in 1991, has its own independent government, currency and security system

The move prompted Beijing to accuse Taiwan of undermining Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

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The foreign ministers of Taiwan and Somaliland, Joseph Wu and Yasin Hagi Mohamoud, signed a bilateral agreement in Taipei on February 26, 2020. Photo: Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AP

Published: 9:47pm, 6 Jul 2020Updated: 9:47pm, 6 Jul 2020

Taiwan has secured a rare diplomatic victory in establishing relations with the independent region of Somaliland.

Intense pressure from China has reduced the self-governing, democratic island to having only 15 diplomatic allies, and being excluded from the United Nations and most other international organisations where Beijing has leverage.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be brought under its control by military force if it deems necessary. In elections and public opinion surveys, Taiwanese have overwhelmingly rejected political union with China.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu says the two countries have agreed to establish ties based on “friendship and a shared commitment to common values of freedom, democracy, justice and the rule of law”. Photo: Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AP)

Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 as the country collapsed into warlord-led conflict and has seen little of the violence and extremist attacks that plague its neighbour to the south.

Despite lacking international recognition, the region has maintained its own independent government, currency and security system.