Panama lawmakers' Taiwan group draws China opposition

China's embassy in Panama opposed a new parliamentary group formed by Panamanian lawmakers to build ties with Taiwan, saying the move interfered in China's internal affairs.

The group was launched Tuesday by 45 of the 71 deputies in Panama's National Assembly. It aims to seek investment and promote commercial and political exchanges with Taiwanese business leaders and parliamentarians.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino distanced himself from the initiative. He wrote on X that outreach, travel and exchanges by Assembly members with Taiwan did not imply endorsement by the executive branch.

China's embassy said the group violated the One China principle, contradicted Panama's foreign policy and sent the wrong signal. It said the lawmakers were undermining bilateral relations.

Opposition lawmaker Medin Jimenez said Panama was neutral and should strengthen relations with friendly nations. Opposition lawmaker Jose Perez told EcoTV the effort sought benefits for Panamanians, including scholarships and knowledge exchange.

Panama established diplomatic relations with China in 2017 after severing ties with Taiwan. Taiwan is self-governing, while Beijing regards it as a province of China.

Relations between Panama and China have cooled after Panama's judiciary cancelled a concession granted to a Hong Kong-based company to operate two ports on the Panama Canal. The cancellations followed pressure from US President Donald Trump, who threatened to take over the canal and claimed it was being controlled by Beijing.