Taiwan plans to foster diplomacy and build a stronger trade relationship with Somaliland. That was the word from Foreign Ministry official Wu Cheng-wei on Thursday, after meetings with Somaliland Foreign Minister Essa Kayd Mohamoud.
Wu says that the Somaliland delegation will continue to meet with other Taiwanese politicians to discuss future collaborations.
Mohamoud and other Somaliland ministers have already met with President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Wu, among other high-ranking politicians. The meetings come as part of the Somaliland delegation’s historic five-day trip to Taiwan, their government’s first cabinet-level visit.
China has criticized Somaliland’s decision to send a delegation to Taiwan, saying it conflicts with Beijing’s “one China policy”. Taiwan’s foreign ministry says that China should not force this principle on other nations or international organizations. China has voiced its opposition to ties between Taiwan and Somaliland ever since Taiwan and Somaliland set up representative offices in each other’s capitals in 2020.
Foreign Minister Joseph Wu says that Taiwan and Somaliland completely understand each other’s international standing. Like Taiwan, Somaliland is not internationally recognized as a country. Instead, the international community considers Somaliland to be an autonomous region within Somalia.
Minister Wu says that Taiwan must support Somaliland’s democracy and aid the country with agriculture and medical resources.