Taiwan's Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that Somalia has implemented a travel ban on Taiwanese passport holders, a decision it attributes to mounting pressure from China. This move comes as Taiwan enhances its diplomatic connections with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region that has been forging its identity separate from Somalia since declaring independence in 1991.
Somaliland has faced challenges in obtaining international recognition, hindering its ability to engage in trade and security agreements. Its recent diplomatic outreach to Taiwan has drawn ire from both Somalia and China, especially as Somaliland seeks to solidify its legitimacy on the global stage, including courting support from the Trump administration and establishing ties with conservative U.S. lawmakers.
The travel ban was communicated to airlines by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, blocking all entry, exit, and transit for Taiwanese passport holders. Somalia cited compliance with the United Nations Resolution 2758, which, passed in 1971, recognizes the People's Republic of China as the legitimate representative of China at the UN, but does not address Taiwan's sovereignty directly. Beijing's stance is that the resolution lends legal status to its claims over Taiwan.
Taiwan's swift condemnation highlights the ongoing complexities of international diplomacy involving Taiwan, Somalia, and China, as each seeks to navigate its interests in a region increasingly influenced by global powers.
