China to reopen Somalia embassy, sees strong ties

[Raphael]

China to reopen Somalia embassy, sees strong ties - Business Insider

BEIJING (Reuters) - China will reopen its embassy in Somalia after signs the East African country was making progress in its efforts to restore peace decades after the end of its civil war, the foreign ministry said on Monday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China will send a team to Somalia on July 1 to reopen the embassy, which was closed in 1991 as Somalia descended into chaos.

"China's reopening of the embassy in Somalia is a signal that China attaches great importance to relations with Somalia," Hong said at a daily briefing.

Once written off as a failed state, Somalia now has its most legitimate government for decades since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's election in 2012, but the government still struggles to exert influence beyond the capital and is plagued by recent attacks by al Shabaab.

China's announcement comes just over three weeks after the United States said it will appoint a new ambassador to Mogadishu for the first time since closing its embassy there 23 years ago.

Britain and Turkey have both opened embassies in Somalia and other countries, including Iran, are also vying for influence in the Horn of Africa nation.

China has made major investments in Africa, mainly in the natural resources sector. Africans broadly see China as a healthy counterbalance to Western influence but, as ties mature, there are growing calls from policymakers and economists for more balanced trade relations.


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Somalia's strategic geography is too valuable to be wasted. Let's hope for some strong development and growth in ties .

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

If there's a country that really needed help its Somalia.

 

[Aepsilons]

If there's a country that really needed help its Somalia.

Perhaps they can help flush out the piracy in the coastal villages.

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

Perhaps they can help flush out the piracy in the coastal villages.

With what? The country is in hell since "Black Hawks Down."

 

[Raphael]

Perhaps they can help flush out the piracy in the coastal villages.

Foreign intervention in Africa is more or less duopolized by the US and France, and I'm very content with this situation. There's no need for PLA troops deployed in far-off and exotic places. At most, a token force could be sent to assist a multilateral peacekeeping mission.

 

[Aepsilons]

Foreign intervention in Africa is more or less duopolized by the US and France, and I'm very content with this situation. There's no need for PLA troops deployed in far-off and exotic places. At most, a token force could be sent to assist a multilateral peacekeeping mission.

It will only be a necessary strategic point in the future , friend. As China's interests and civilian presence grows in Africa, it is only right that the Chinese military provide protection for Chinese citizens and strategic interests abroad.

The same goes for Japan. We have already dispatched JGSDF forces in Iraq to protect our assets in the area.

JMSDF also patrols the Arabian gulf , like the PLAN, to safeguard the some 2,000-3,000 japanese merchant ships that travel through this choke point.

With what? The country is in hell since "Black Hawks Down."

It will start with civilians, then security units, then , who knows , perhaps actual military intervention in the case of interdiction protocol.