Taiwan Fights Back: MOFA Launches Initiative Against China's Legal Warfare

Responding to Somalia's Passport Ban, Taiwan Fortifies International Defense

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Taiwan is taking decisive action to counter China's "legal warfare" tactics aimed at isolating the island nation on the global stage. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) has initiated a special project to address Beijing's distortion of UN Resolution 2758, according to a foreign affairs official.

This move comes in response to Somalia's recent decision to ban Taiwanese passport holders from entering or transiting through the African nation. This decision, which cited UN Resolution 2758 and Somalia's adherence to the "one China" principle, has effectively restricted travel for Taiwanese citizens.

MOFA has strongly protested Somalia's action, warning Taiwanese citizens against travel to Somalia or Somaliland until the ban is lifted. The ministry has established a response task force to combat this new form of suppression, initiated by Minister Lin while he was visiting Eswatini.

Highlighting the violation of personal freedom, MOFA is seeking support from the United States, like-minded countries, and the International Civil Aviation Organization to advocate for Taiwan's interests. The ministry views the move as an attempt by China to undermine Taiwan's international status.

China has already voiced its support for Somalia’s actions, further confirming Beijing's involvement in the suppression. Beijing has been consistently misinterpreting UN Resolution 2758 to limit Taiwan's international space, including its efforts to force Taiwan’s representative office to move out of Pretoria last year. However, due to Taiwan’s resilience and the support of other democratic nations, the office continues to operate normally.

At a UN Security Council meeting last month, the US representative to the UN accused China of misusing the resolution in its attempts to isolate Taiwan. The US also emphasized that the resolution does not preclude Taiwan’s participation in the UN system and other multilateral fora.

Minister Lin has instructed the ministry and overseas representative offices to increase promotional and lobbying efforts and to prepare for China's legal warfare.

In addition, US Representatives Tom Tiffany and Andy Ogles sent a joint letter to Somalian Ambassador to the US Dahir Hassan Abdi. They expressed deep concern and stated that the directive was issued at the insistence of the People’s Republic of China. The letter also warned of serious retaliatory consequences for Somalia, including visa revocations, travel bans, and potential diplomatic repercussions.