China condemns Taiwan-Somaliland maritime security agreement
2 Min Read
China has strongly condemned a new maritime cooperation pact between Taiwan and Somaliland—an unrecognized but strategically located entity near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
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A Chinese national flag flutters against the residential building in Beijing, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Beijing has denounced a recently signed maritime cooperation agreement between Taiwan and the self-declared independent region of Somaliland, branding it a grave violation of China's sovereignty and a breach of the international consensus upholding the "One China" principle.
The deal, formalized during Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdirahman Zahir Adam Bakal's visit to Taipei, outlines cooperation in maritime security, including coast guard training, radar technology transfer, and joint patrol initiatives along Somaliland's Red Sea coastline.
In a statement released by the Chinese Embassy in Somalia, a spokesperson condemned the deal in unequivocal terms, calling it "a blatant violation of China's territorial integrity" that undermines its "core national interests."
The spokesperson reiterated Beijing's position that "Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory. It has never been and will never be an independent country."
China further warned that any interaction between Somaliland and Taiwanese authorities is "illegal" and would offer "no political benefit" to the Horn of Africa territory.
Strategic Strait Pact
Although the agreement centers on maritime capacity-building and coastal security, analysts note its broader geopolitical implications.
Taiwan's outreach to Somaliland, an unrecognized but strategically positioned entity near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, mirrors Taipei's effort to strengthen informal diplomatic partnerships amid growing global tensions with Beijing.
For Somaliland, the partnership offers critical infrastructure and training support, while boosting its visibility on the international stage.
Read more: Somalia offers US control over ports to block Somaliland recognition
Though the United States is not directly involved in the agreement, the pact aligns with Washington's broader strategic goals of countering Chinese influence in the Horn of Africa.
Somaliland, often hailed by US lawmakers as a democratic outpost in an unstable region, has received increasing attention from policymakers advocating for stronger trilateral ties among Somaliland, Taiwan, and the US.
The US has also maintained quiet interest in the development of Somaliland's Berbera port as a potential logistics hub near vital global trade routes.
Beijing has vowed to take "all necessary measures" to safeguard its sovereignty and urged Somaliland to realign with the international community that recognizes only one China.
