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Commentary: Beyond Non-Recognition: How #Taiwan–Somaliland maritime pact challenges diplomatic norms amid global hegemonies
Last month, Taiwan and #Somaliland, both de facto states lacking widespread international recognition, formalized a maritime security agreement in #Taipei. This accord, which emphasizes cooperation in areas such as maritime safety and personnel training, represents a significant development in their unconventional diplomatic alliance. Gulaid Yusuf Idaan, the author of this commentary, argues that the agreement is reshaping diplomatic norms and challenging the conventional belief that international recognition is a “prerequisite for a state to function as a sovereign actor.”
He explains that both Taiwan and Somaliland are excluded from major international institutions due to persistent geopolitical pressures. Taiwan’s isolation is a direct result of #China’s enforcement of the One China Policy, while Somaliland’s lack of recognition stems from the “One #Somalia” doctrine. Despite these constraints, both are asserting their right to international engagement, forging what the author refers to as “post-sovereign diplomacy”—a form of collaboration that intentionally defies the norms of formal state recognition.
According to the article, this alliance demonstrates the increasing relevance of informal and para-diplomacy, which are typically utilized by subnational entities, although these tools are now being repurposed by quasi-states to advance shared security and development goals. Idaan writes, “This partnership reflects a hybrid approach to diplomacy driven by shared governance capacities and a mutual interest in circumventing the constraints imposed by global recognition hierarchies.”
While the pact introduces a new diplomatic model, the author acknowledges that significant challenges persist as both Taiwan and Somaliland face geopolitical pressure from larger powers, with “China’s influence over Taiwan” and “Somalia’s territorial claims over Somaliland” being key concerns. Nevertheless, he contends that the maritime pact shows how unrecognized states can reshape diplomacy through “resilience, shared values, and strategic cooperation,” offering a model for others on the margins of the international system.
