Somaliland government has confirmed that it would not honor the request by China to cut ties with Taiwan.
In the last two weeks, Somaliland has strengthened diplomatic ties with Taiwan to China’s consternation.
Since then, the government of China has attempted severally – direct and indirect – to urge Somaliland to severe ties with Taiwan.
However, Somaliland remains adamant that it would not accede to those requests.
Earlier this week, Qui Jin, who is China’s Ambassador to Somalia, met with officials from Somaliland on two occasions to convince them to cut ties with Taiwan.
Jin assured the Somaliland officials that his government would open a liaison office within its administrative capital of Hargeisa if it severs ties with Taiwan.
Nevertheless, President Musa Bihi Abdi’s administration insists that nothing would affect its fledgling ties with Taiwan.
The Somaliland officials told Ambassador Jin that his country remains committed to cooperate with all countries, including China.