News - World: China has sharply criticized Israel’s decision to recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, saying Beijing “firmly opposes” any attempt to divide Somalia’s territory.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, speaking at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Monday, stated that Somaliland is an integral part of Somalia, citing the principles of the UN Charter and established norms of international law.

"China firmly supports Somalia's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and opposes any moves that undermine Somali territorial integrity," Lin added.

He noted that Somalia’s federal government had issued a statement rejecting Israel’s move, and pointed to similar condemnations by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League, and the African Union, all of which dismissed the recognition as illegitimate.

Lin stressed that the Somaliland question is entirely an internal affair of Somalia and must be resolved by the Somali people themselves in accordance with their constitution and national conditions.

Countries outside the region, he added, should refrain from interference and not incite or support separatist forces in another nation for their own interests.

"We urge the Somaliland authorities to recognize the situation and immediately cease separatist activities and collusion with external forces," he said. 

Israel announced on Friday that it had formally recognized Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state,” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office saying the two sides had signed an agreement to establish ties.

The OIC General Secretariat expressed its strong condemnation and categorical rejection of Israel’s move, considering it a violation of the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia, its national unity, and its territorial integrity.

The African Union also said it "firmly rejects" Israel's move, warning, “Any attempt to undermine the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia...risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, in recent remarks, urged the international community to take decisive action to counter the “expansionist and threatening” action of the occupying Israeli regime.

Somaliland, which is a breakaway from Somalia, is being considered for the forced relocation of Palestinians by the Zionist regime.

It has maintained self-rule since the 1991 civil war, but has yet to get any international recognition.

Somaliland is located along the Gulf of Aden and is home to the deep-water strategic port of Berbera.

The Israeli regime reportedly plans to build a military base in Somaliland, which would enable it to gain control over the Gulf of Aden, where it can launch attacks on Yemen.

The leader of Yemen’s revolution, Sayyed Abdulmalik al-Houthi, warned in a speech on Sunday that any potential Israeli presence in Somaliland will be considered a “military target” for the Yemeni Armed Forces. 

Source: Press TV