03 July 2020 Taiwan, Somaliland to set up representative offices he Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced, July 1, that TTaiwan and the Republic of So- maliland will set up respective repre- sentative offices in Hargeisa and Taipei City in the near future. The move comes a matter of months after the signing of a bilateral protocol by MOFA Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu and Somaliland Foreign and Interna- tional Cooperation Minister Yasin Hagi Mohamoud in February. Taiwan joins the likes of the United King- dom, Denmark, Ethiopia, Turkey, Djibou- ti, Canada, the European Union and the United Nations, all of whom have rep- resentative offices in the self-declared ues of freedom, democracy, justice and ly by both President Tsai Ing-wen and east African nation. the rule of law, before adding that both Somaliland President, Muse Bihi Abdi, Minister Wu described the agreement sides had been enhancing cooperation with President Tsai stating that Taiwan as based on bilateral friendship and a since 2009. looks forward to expanding “mutually shared commitment to the common val- The announcement was greeted warm- beneficial cooperation” with Somaliland. MOFA strongly condemns passage of Hong Kong national security law n an announcement June 30, the Min- Taiwan eases entry regulations istry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly for foreign nationals Icondemned the passage of the Hong ntry restrictions for foreign Kong national security law by the Stand- nationals looking to travel to ing Committee of China’s National Peo- ETaiwan continued to ease, ple’s Congress. June 29. MOFA described the new law as a “com- Individuals planning on visiting Tai- plete negation” of the commitments made The ministry further added that Taiwan wan for reasons other than tourism by the Chinese Communist Party at the will not “stand idly by”, citing the launch or social visits are now permitted to handover of Hong Kong that its way of life of the Hong Kong Humanitarian Aid Proj- apply for a special entry permit at would “remain unchanged for 50 years”. ect, and the opening of the Taiwan-Hong their local R.O.C. overseas mission, Stating that the law will “seriously under- Kong Office for Exchanges and Services. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs an- mine” the high degree of autonomy that MOFA was joined in their condemnation nounced. Those wishing to study the city has previously enjoyed, MOFA by the Presidential Office Spokesperson, Mandarin in Taiwan, however, must urged the Chinese government to respect Xavier Chang, who described the move as comply with the conditions set the freedom and human rights of Hong proof of the inviability of “one country, two forth by the Ministry of Education. Kong citizens. s y s t e m s ”. Nevertheless, all foreign nationals Taiwan releases 3rd national report on UN human rights covenants must, upon entry, present an En- he Executive Yuan published Tai- administration had spared no effort in glish-language certificate of a neg- wan’s third national report on the promoting human and economic rights. ative COVID-19 test taken within Timplementation of the U.N. Inter- In particular, the Premier highlighted the three working days of their flight to national Covenant on Civil and Politi- passage of same-sex marriage legisla- Taiwan, and subsequently undergo cal Rights and the International Cove- tion, the establishment of a National Hu- a 14-day quarantine period once nant on Economic, Social and Cultural man Rights Museum, and the upcoming they arrive in the country. Rights, June 29. formation of a National Human Rights Editorial: Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium During an event marking the launch of Commission later this year. Website: http://www.roc-taiwan.org/be_en/index.html the report, Premier Su Tseng-chang, cel- The report is due to be reviewed by E-mail: [email protected] ebrated the work of all those involved in international scholars and experts in Tel: +32(0)2/287.28.16 or +32(0)2/287.28.11 making Taiwan a better, more advanced March 2021, according to the Ministry of nation, and said that the Tsai Ing-wen Justice..