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Saturday, June 17, 2017
On Tuesday, the People’s Republic of China (commonly called as China) and the Republic of Panama released its joint communiqué saying that Panama recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the legitimate sovereign state of China and that the Taiwan territory belongs to China. Panama severed ties with and stopped recognizing the Republic of China (also known as Taiwan).
On the same day, at their Beijing meeting, Associated Press reports, the Panamanian Vice President and Foreign Minister Isabel Saint Malo and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signed a joint communiqué.
One day prior, on Monday, Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela announced the move.
“Taiwanese Foreign Minister David Lee (???) announced that Taiwan severed ties with Panama as a response to Panama’s diplomatic switch, which he called “most unfriendly”, saying that Panama had “deceiv[ed] the Republic of China government until the last moment.”
Panamanian officials told Associated Press that Panama planned the diplomatic switch last month but considered it years ago. In 2009, China rejected Panama’s attempt to establish ties with it because Taiwanese then-President Ma Ying-jeou enforced one-China policy to strengthen cross-strait relations with China.
On Thursday, the CEO of Panama Canal authority Jorge Quijano told reporters that Panama’s decision would make the country prosperous. Meanwhile, the US lawmakers discussed the prolonged delay of planned arms sales to Taiwan. Politician Ed Royce said, in the wake of Panama’s decision, the US should value its commitments more to protect Taiwan. Another politician Ted Yoho said, “The arms sales process,” which Yoho said has been incomplete since 2015, “has become a political calculation designed to minimize friction with [China].”
In 2013, Gambia ended diplomatic relations with Taiwan. In March of last year, Gambia began official relations with China while Ma Ying-jeou was the Taiwanese President. After Tsai Ing-wen succeeded Ma, in December of last year, Sao Tome and Principe switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China.
In contrast to predecessor Ma, President Tsai rejected the one-China policy and has declared Taiwan independent from China. She also criticized Panama’s decision. A director of Asian-Pacific studies Zhang Baohui of Hong Kong’s Lingnan University said that Tsai’s position will harm Taiwan’s interests.
Most members of the United Nations (UN) have legally recognized the People’s Republic of China since in 1971, the UN terminated recognition of the Republic of China, Taiwan’s de facto government since the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949. Per China’s insistence, Taiwan is also excluded from the UN and other multinational bodies, like this year’s World Health Assembly.
In early 1990s, about 30 countries recognized Taiwan. After relations with Panama ended, 20 countries currently recognize Taiwan: 11 from Central and South America and the Caribbean, six from Oceania, two from Africa, and the Vatican City from Europe. Lee said that Taiwan has planned on preventing more countries of Central America from shifting ties toward China.