Panama lawmakers form Taiwan exchange group despite Chinese pressure and presidential disavowal

Parliamentary exchange group set up despite pressure from China’s embassy and public disavowal by Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino

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Igor Patrickin Rio de Janeiro

Published: 5:36am, 15 Sep 2026

China has warned Panama of “serious consequences” after most of the country’s lawmakers set up a parliamentary exchange group with Taiwan, defying pressure from Beijing’s embassy and a public disavowal by their own president.

The warning came from foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, who said on Monday that the group seriously violated the one-China principle upheld by Panama and urged what he called “those few politicians” to “see the real picture”.

Beijing had noted the Panamanian government’s statement on the matter, he said, and hoped Panama would honour its commitment “with real actions to uphold the political foundation of China-Panama relations”.

Guo devoted the closing part of his answer to Washington, urging the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three joint communiques that underpin its recognition of Beijing, and to “stop disrupting and sabotaging China-Panama relations”.