Somaliland Rebukes China's Claims, Defends Taiwan Alliance

In a robust response, the Representative Office of Somaliland in Taiwan has dismissed claims from the Chinese Embassy in Somalia as unfounded and coercive, underscoring respect for Somaliland's self-determination and its diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The Somaliland office expressed discomfort over the criticisms from China regarding support from U.S. legislators for Somaliland.

The statement emphasized Somaliland's historical claim to sovereignty, recalling the achievement of independence from the United Kingdom on June 26, 1960, and questioned the legality of its subsequent merger with Somalia. Having reasserted its independence on May 18, 1991, after years of strife, Somaliland boasts a stable democratic governance unlike the fragile state of Somalia.

Affirming its criteria for statehood under international law, including the Montevideo Convention, Somaliland rebukes any external attempts to undermine its autonomy. It lauded its partnership with Taiwan as mutually beneficial, rooted in shared democratic values. Concluding, Somaliland pledged continued international engagement despite China's coercive tactics.

(With inputs from agencies.)