The Chinese government has issued a stern condemnation of the formal recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state, describing it as an unlawful act of “foreign interference” that threatens the stability of the Horn of Africa.
Speaking at a regular news briefing on Monday, 29 December 2025, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reaffirmed Beijing’s unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
China’s reaction follows the landmark announcement on Friday, 26 December, where Israel became the first United Nations member state to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent sovereign nation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government signed an agreement to establish full diplomatic relations with the breakaway region, citing shared security interests in the Red Sea.
The move has triggered a “diplomatic wildfire,” with Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, and the Arab League joining China in condemning the decision as a violation of international law.
Spokesperson Lin Jian used particularly strong language to frame China’s opposition, linking the situation to the broader principle of non-interference.
Beijing maintains that Somaliland is an “inalienable part” of Somalia and that its future must be decided solely by the Somali people.
Without naming names beyond Israel, Lin cautioned that no country should “aid and abet separatist forces” for their own “selfish gains”, a rhetoric that mirrors China’s long-standing policy regarding Taiwan.
China has urged the authorities in Somaliland (the capital being Hargeisa) to “get a clear sense of where things are headed” and immediately cease their “collision with external forces.”
Analysts point out that China’s fierce defense of Somalia’s borders is not just about the Horn of Africa. Beijing is deeply sensitive to any precedent of a breakaway territory achieving international recognition, as it directly correlates to its own “One China” policy regarding Taiwan.
Furthermore, China has significant investments in Djibouti and Ethiopia; a fragmented Somalia could threaten the Belt and Road Initiative logistics along the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait.
