China plans sea patrols after Taiwan-somaliland alliance

CHINA has been forced onto the defensive by a blossoming alliance of two small democracies that are barely recognised by the rest of the world.

Growing ties between Taiwan and Somaliland have triggered a frantic diplomatic counter-offensive from Beijing, and reportedly pushed it to raise the prospect of Chinese naval patrols in partnership with Somalia in the waters of the globally strategic Horn of Africa.

Somaliland, which lies in east Africa, south of Djibouti on the Gulf of Aden, unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has struggled to gain recognition from any other nation, even though it maintains informal ties with some foreign governments.

Tomorrow it is to open a de facto embassy in Taiwan, bringing Taipei and Hargeisa one step closer to formally acknowledging each other as countries.

In August, Taiwan marked the strengthening political and business ties by opening its own representation in Somaliland. This prompted sharp rebukes from Somalia, which claims Somaliland territory and rejects its independence, and China, which claims rights over Taiwan.

While Beijing wants to deny Taiwan any presence in Africa, where China has prioritised its Belt and Road Initiative, Somaliland also sits on a vital waterway. Neighbouring Djibouti is of huge importance to Beijing’s global military ambitions, hosting China’s only overseas logistics base. Last week the Pentagon’s 2020 China Military Power report revealed that Beijing is also exploring potential new bases in Kenya, Tanzania, Angola and Namibia.

According to one security expert working in the Horn of Africa – who wished to remain anonymous – the fierce reaction of both China and Somalia extends far beyond the issuing of terse statements. Their cooperation has stepped up, and China made an offer of joint naval patrols with Somalia, he reported.

‘The Chinese went down to Mogadishu and said, “How are the patrols up north? Let’s help you do that”’

“China went down to Mogadishu and said ‘How are the patrols in your waters up north? Let’s help you do that.’ It’s absolute leveraging and bullying tactics to drop down their ships from Djibouti,” he said.

“I would not be surprised if in the next month or two an American ship has its first visit into the port of Berbera,” the source added, referring to the commercial city of Somaliland.

The proposed naval cooperation as a direct consequence of Hargeisa’s alliance with Taipei was reported in July in the Somaliland Chronicle, citing diplomatic and defence sources, and on Real Clear Defense, a US news site.

The foreign ministry in Beijing did not respond to a request for a comment.

Muse Bihi Abdi, the Somaliland president, has reportedly also rebuffed Chinese diplomatic pressure and incentives to drop relations with Taiwan.