Hornpost
Hargeisa (Horn post) The Taiwan Representative Office in the Republic of Somaliland has issued a strong response rejecting remarks made by Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, regarding Taiwan and cross-strait relations.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the office referred to comments made by President Mohamud during an interview broadcast by China Global Television Network (CGTN) on 21 December 2025, in which he claimed that China possesses the military capacity to “bring back” Taiwan.
The Taiwan Representative Office reiterated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country, stressing that neither Taiwan nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is subordinate to the other.
The statement emphasized that maintaining freedom, security, peace, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region is a broadly shared international consensus. It warned that China’s military activities, including what it described as unilateral provocations, coercive actions, and so-called “grey zone” tactics, pose a threat not only to Taiwan’s democratic system but also to regional and global stability.
According to the office, such actions risk destabilizing the Indo-Pacific region with far-reaching international consequences.
The Taiwan Representative Office urged the Somali government to focus on its own national development and internal priorities, cautioning against amplifying rhetoric linked to geopolitical competition. It added that echoing militaristic language undermines international peace, stability, and mutual trust.
The statement concluded by affirming that Taiwan will continue to uphold universal democratic values and work with diplomatic partners and like-minded countries to safeguard regional and global peace and stability, despite what it described as political pressure, diplomatic suppression, and disinformation campaigns attributed to the Chinese Communist Party.
Taiwan and Somaliland maintain close relations, including cooperation in development, health, education, and governance, despite the lack of formal international recognition for both entities.
Context: China–Taiwan Diplomacy in Africa.
China–Taiwan diplomatic competition in Africa has long centered on recognition, development assistance, and political alignment in international forums. Beijing insists that African governments adhere to its “One China” principle as a condition for diplomatic and economic engagement, while Taiwan has sought to maintain partnerships through technical cooperation, development aid, and people-to-people programs.
In recent years, China has intensified diplomatic pressure to isolate Taiwan globally, while Taiwan has deepened ties with a limited number of partners, including Somaliland, which hosts Taiwan’s representative office despite lacking international recognition.
The rivalry has increasingly extended beyond formal diplomacy into media narratives and geopolitical signaling, reflecting broader strategic competition between China and democratic partners across the Indo-Pacific and Africa.
Prepared by:
Hornpost staff Reporter
