The Addis Standard published on 15 January 2024 an article titled "News: Ambassador Meles Alem Reaffirms Ethiopia's Commitment to One-China Policy."
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland concerning possible recognition of Somaliland as an independent country has apparently raised concerns in Beijing. Ethiopia acknowledges that the MOU "includes provisions for the Ethiopian government to conduct an in-depth assessment towards taking a position regarding the efforts of Somaliland to gain international recognition." The issue is further complicated because in 2020 Taiwan opened a "representative office" in Hargeisa, a development opposed by Beijing.
Comment: The timing of this reaffirmation by Addis Ababa of its support for the "One China Policy" appears to be driven by Beijing, not by Addis Ababa or Hargeisa. The Ethiopia-Somaliland deal has no direct relationship to China or Taiwan. Nothing else has occurred recently in the China-Ethiopia relationship to inspire such a reaffirmation.
