Somaliland Remains Aloof to Beijing as China Warns US over Taiwan

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Actors in US-China Battle for the Horn and Somaliland Charm offensive in the West Presidents Biden, Bihi, Guelleh and and Xi of US, Somaliland, Djibouti and China respectively

THT:  If the US side insists on playing the Taiwan card and goes further and further down the wrong road, it will certainly lead to a dangerous situation,” Yang Jiechi, Beijing’s top diplomat, said in a phone call with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

Yang said Washington should “have a clear understanding of the situation,” according to a statement posted online by his nation’s Foreign Ministry. “China will certainly take firm action to safeguard its sovereignty and security interests,” he added.

The Chinese were reacting after a meeting between Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Rome, Italy.

The two sides had candid, in-depth and constructive talks on China-US relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest and concern, and agreed to follow through on the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries to enhance mutual understanding, manage differences, expand common ground and strengthen cooperation, and to accumulate enabling conditions for China-US relations to return to the right track of sound and steady development.

News like this are closely followed in Somaliland

Taiwan and Somaliland who have very Strong and beneficial government to government relations are both isolated internationally courtesy of jurisdictional authority claimed over Taiwan by China and Somaliland by Somalia

Thus the tug of war in the south China seas and entire Asian Pacific region between China and an international consortium led by the USA 9f great concern to both Taipei and Hargeisa.

Somaliland has specifically been a thorn in the ego of Chinese global and African influence having being the first African Country to disdainful reject Beijing overtures of no questions asked financial grants, mega development projects and ilk if relations with Taiwan are rescinded.

China cannot dictate who Somaliland can have relations with as it is a sovereign nation and was “born free”, said Somaliland Foreign Minister Dr Essa Kayd in Taipei during a trip to Taiwan which has been condemned by Beijing.

Somaliland and China to Establish Relations based on Mutual Respect
Somaliland President hosts a High Level Chinese Delegation

Somaliland has touted her strategic port and airfield as link to garnering International recognition with specific target being the USA.

For the US and western allies the port of Berbera could offer a regional Alternative to Djibouti, which hosts a Chinese military base

“While we have no objections to China relations , Beijing should cease ongoing pursuit of undermine Somaliland- Taiwan relations” This was stated by Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi in Washington DC

Stating that Somaliland was a sovereign , democratic and peaceful nation thence open to engagement with any and all like minded, President Bihi went on to urge China against her Ceaseless efforts to undermine his country’s quest for International recognition.

Though Somaliland a former British protectorate withdrew from her 1960 voluntary later turned fateful Union with Somalia a former Italian colonial 30 years ago, she is only acknowledged as a de-facto state.

While a number of countries like Ethiopia, Turkey, Kenya, Djibouti, the UAE among others have established consular general presence in Hargeisa only Taiwan has a fully fledged embassy level mission.

Contrary to regular and successive mighty flexing by China the baffled by tiny and unrecognized Somaliland authorities in Beijing say it can Abide  Taipei having a commercial representative office in Somaliland but not diplomatic ties while Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen describes shared values with Somaliland as ‘freedom, democracy, justice and the rule of law’

On the phone discussions between the Chinese and and American officials the White House issued a short statement on the Wednesday call, saying the pair “focused on regional security issues and nonproliferation.” They also discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine and specific issues in US-China relations, it added.

The Yang-Sullivan call was the most high-level contact between the US and China since Joe Biden and Xi Jinping spoke in March, their first conversation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ties have remained frosty since then, with the nations sparring over Vladimir Putin, democracy in Hong Kong, forced labor allegations in Xinjiang and a range of other issues.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on its website that four People’s Liberation Army aircraft, including a pair of J-16 fighter jets, entered its air defense identification zone on Wednesday, skirting close to the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

Somaliland Foreign Minister Dr Essa Kayd meets Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei- File PHOTO

China frequently lashes out at the US over its backing for Taiwan, saying it amounts to interference in its internal affairs. Xi told Biden in the March call that the issue could “have a disruptive impact on the relationship between the two countries” if it was not properly handled, and has referred to China’s quest to gain control of the democratically ruled island as a “historic mission.”

Last week, the State Department updated a Taiwan factsheet posted on its website, dropping a reference to not supporting the island’s independence, and describing it as “a leading democracy and a technological powerhouse.” It also said Taiwan was a key partner in the semiconductor industry and “other critical supply chains.”

On Wednesday, more than 50 senators signed a letter urging Biden to include Taiwan as a partner in the proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, part of Washington’s efforts to counter China’s clout in Asia. Biden will hold a summit in Tokyo with the leaders of Japan, India and Australia as part of a trip to Asia that begins later this week.

Those four nations form a grouping known as the Quad that is largely aimed at countering China’s influence.

While the government of President Tsai Ing-wen asserts Taiwan is already a de facto independent nation in need of wider international recognition, Beijing claims it as part of its territory that must be brought under control by force if necessary.

Tsai has played down worries Russia’s invasion could trigger a similar crisis for Taiwan in the near term. One of the reasons for that is the leadership in Beijing wants domestic stability before a twice-a-decade congress this year that is likely to hand Xi a precedent-defying third term in power.

 https://twitter.com/AmbMohamedHagi/status/1528000350363320320?t=ti1Qh1BscsjcqHEphINH3g&s=19

On the phone discussions between the Chinese and and American officials the White House issued a short statement on the Wednesday call, saying the pair “focused on regional security issues and nonproliferation.” They also discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine and specific issues in US-China relations, it added.

The Yang-Sullivan call was the most high-level contact between the US and China since Joe Biden and Xi Jinping spoke in March, their first conversation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ties have remained frosty since then, with the nations sparring over Vladimir Putin, democracy in Hong Kong, forced labor allegations in Xinjiang and a range of other issues.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on its website that four People’s Liberation Army aircraft, including a pair of J-16 fighter jets, entered its air defense identification zone on Wednesday, skirting close to the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

China frequently lashes out at the US over its backing for Taiwan, saying it amounts to interference in its internal affairs. Xi told Biden in the March call that the issue could “have a disruptive impact on the relationship between the two countries” if it was not properly handled, and has referred to China’s quest to gain control of the democratically ruled island as a “historic mission.”

Last week, the State Department updated a Taiwan factsheet posted on its website, dropping a reference to not supporting the island’s independence, and describing it as “a leading democracy and a technological powerhouse.” It also said Taiwan was a key partner in the semiconductor industry and “other critical supply chains.”

On Wednesday, more than 50 senators signed a letter urging Biden to include Taiwan as a partner in the proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, part of Washington’s efforts to counter China’s clout in Asia. Biden will hold a summit in Tokyo with the leaders of Japan, India and Australia as part of a trip to Asia that begins later this week.

Those four nations form a grouping known as the Quad that is largely aimed at countering China’s influence.

While the government of President Tsai Ing-wen asserts Taiwan is already a de facto independent nation in need of wider international recognition, Beijing claims it as part of its territory that must be brought under control by force if necessary.

Tsai has played down worries Russia’s invasion could trigger a similar crisis for Taiwan in the near term. One of the reasons for that is the leadership in Beijing wants domestic stability before a twice-a-decade congress this year that is likely to hand Xi a precedent-defying third term in power.

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