China has warned Somaliland of “serious consequences” after President Abdirahman Irro expressed support for Taiwan during his visit to Washington, escalating tensions over Hargeisa’s growing ties with Taipei.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — China has warned Somaliland of “serious consequences” after President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, widely known as Irro, made remarks supporting Taiwan during a visit to the United States, escalating tensions over the disputed territory’s growing ties with Taipei.
The Chinese Embassy in Somalia said Wednesday that Somaliland authorities had “blatantly violated” the one-China principle and infringed on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Beijing strongly condemned the remarks and urged what it described as “a few politicians” to recognise the consequences of crossing its red lines on Taiwan.
“Crossing the line on the Taiwan question will lead to serious consequences,” the embassy said in a statement, without specifying what measures Beijing could take.
China also reaffirmed its position that Somaliland is part of Somalia and said it firmly supports the Federal Government in defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The warning came after Irro addressed the Hudson Institute in Washington on Monday during his first visit to the United States since winning Somaliland’s presidential election in November 2024. The event focused on Somaliland’s efforts to deepen relations with Washington and its strategic position in the Horn of Africa.
Somaliland has sought closer political, economic and security ties with the United States as part of a longstanding campaign for international recognition. The territory has also highlighted the strategic importance of its Berbera port and its location along the Gulf of Aden, close to the Bab al-Mandab maritime chokepoint.
Taiwan has been an important part of Somaliland’s diplomatic strategy. The two sides established representative offices in Hargeisa and Taipei in 2020, developing cooperation in areas including health, education, agriculture, technology and investment.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and opposes official relations between Taipei and governments that recognise the People's Republic of China. Taiwan, meanwhile, operates as a self-governing democracy with its own government, military and currency.
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Somalia maintains the one-China policy and has repeatedly supported Beijing's position on Taiwan. In January, the Federal Government reaffirmed that Taiwan is part of the territory of the People's Republic of China and said it supported China's efforts toward national reunification.
The dispute comes as Somaliland's international diplomatic profile has changed significantly. Israel formally recognised Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state in December 2025, becoming the first country to do so. The move was condemned by Somalia and several regional governments, while the European Union reaffirmed support for Somalia's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Israel's recognition has added a new dimension to Somaliland's efforts to build international partnerships, while also increasing diplomatic tensions with Mogadishu.
Beijing has previously opposed attempts to treat Somaliland as a separate sovereign state, linking the issue to its broader support for Somalia's territorial integrity.
The latest warning places Somaliland's Taiwan relationship at the centre of an increasingly complex diplomatic landscape involving Somalia, China, Israel, Taiwan and the United States.
For Hargeisa, closer ties with Taiwan have provided an avenue for economic and diplomatic engagement despite the absence of broad international recognition. For Beijing, however, the relationship touches directly on its core position that there is only one China.
The Chinese statement did not indicate whether Beijing would take immediate diplomatic or economic measures against Somaliland, leaving the meaning of the warning of “serious consequences” unspecified.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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