China firmly opposes Israel's recognition of Somaliland: envoy

China firmly opposes Israel's recognition of Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, as a sovereign state, said a Chinese envoy on Monday.

Israel's formal recognition of Somaliland as an independent sovereign state has further increased tensions in the Horn of Africa, drawing immediate and strong criticisms and condemnations from regional organizations and countries, said Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

China expresses its grave concern over this move and firmly opposes it, Sun told an emergency meeting of the Security Council.

Khaled Khiari, assistant secretary-general for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, said the international community widely reaffirmed the support for Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The UN Security Council has repeatedly confirmed these principles and called on the Somali government and Somaliland to resolve their differences through peaceful and constructive dialogue to avoid escalation of the situation, he said.

Abukar Osman, Somali ambassador to the UN, strongly condemned Israel's recognition of Somaliland, saying such act constitutes a severe violation of Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Osman said Somalia and African countries firmly oppose any attempts to relocate the Palestinians to northwestern Somalia.

"Israel's action not only sets a dangerous precedent, but also poses a serious threat to regional and international peace and security. A3+ (Algeria, Somalia, Sierra Leone and Guyana) calls again on the international community to uphold its responsibility under the United Nations Charter and to reject any act that undermines the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Somalia or the rights of the Palestinian people through a monopolative and immoral actions," said Osman.

Respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity is a fundamental principle of the UN Charter and a cornerstone of international law and international relations, said Sun.

"Somaliland is an integral part of Somali territory. China firmly supports Somalia's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and opposes any act to split its territory. China has always maintained that the Somaliland issue is entirely Somalia's internal affairs. It should be resolved by the Somali people in a way consistent with the national conditions and the Constitution. Countries outside the region should cease unwarranted interference. No country should aid and abet separatist forces in other countries to further their own geopolitical interests," he said.

China urges Israel to strictly observe the UN Charter and international law, immediately rectify its erroneous act and eliminate the negative effects of this move as soon as possible, said Sun.

China also urges the Somaliland authorities to stop separatist activities and collusion with external forces, and return to the track of dialogue to avoid further threats to regional peace and stability, he said.

China firmly opposes Israel's recognition of Somaliland: envoy

A military expert said that the latest live-fire exercises around Taiwan Island, code-named "Justice Mission 2025," are marked by immediate engagement in live-fire drills, a multidimensional blockade strategy, and unified control over Taiwan and surrounding waters.

In an interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), outlined four significant highlights of the ongoing drills, which began on Monday.

"The most striking highlight is the immediate engagement in live-fire drills from the outset. In previous exercises, while we conducted live-fire drills, there were times when such drills were absent, which was normal depending on varying exercise requirements. In this exercise, our military, including Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force troops, rapidly deployed capabilities around Taiwan's northern, southeastern, and eastern areas, followed by live-fire exercises. Our artillery featured simulated strikes on moving targets at sea and on land. This is a significant highlight, showcasing our troops' readiness for battle at all times, their capability for combat at all times, and their assurance of victory, and their capability to seamlessly transition from training to combat," he said.

"The second highlight, which is also a central theme of this exercise, is the multidimensional blockade and control strategy. All branches of our military, including the Coast Guard, implemented multidimensional blockade and control measures at crucial ports and regions of Taiwan. According to the latest updates from the Eastern Theater Command this morning, these measures continue be to a vital part of today's exercises. For instance, the designation of two areas in northern Taiwan aims to execute control around the important Keelung Port, while in the southeast, the blockade targets Kaohsiung and the Zuoying maritime and airspace routes, effectively cutting off key ports, areas and military bases critical to Taiwan separatist forces, thereby establishing a 'closing the door to beat the dog' strategy," Meng said.

"The third highlight is that, from yesterday to today, the Fujian Coast Guard has engaged in law enforcement operation near Taiwan Island and surrounding waters, including attached islets, establishing unified control over these areas. This represents a new breakthrough. I particularly noticed that the areas under control have expanded, according to several pieces of information released by the Coast Guard yesterday, including a poster depicting the extent of our multidimensional control yesterday. Under one-China principle, this reaffirms China's sovereignty and security while underscoring the inviolability of our territory," he said.

"The fourth highlight is the demonstration of coordinated operations among the various units participating in the exercises. This included maritime assaults, ground strikes, air defense and anti-submarine operations, validating the strong combat capabilities of our military," the expert added.

Military expert shares key highlights of PLA live-fire drills