Panama lawmakers arrive in Taiwan despite reported China pressure

Taipei, Nov. 25 (CNA) A group of Panamanian lawmakers arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday, in apparent defiance of reported Chinese requests that they cancel the trip.

The nine-member delegation, led by Manuel Cohen and Ronald Ameth De Gracia Moreno, will meet with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) and attend a banquet hosted by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) during their stay until Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a news release.

The group will also visit several government agencies, including the International Trade Administration, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Taiwan's foreign aid agency TaiwanICDF, and Hsinchu Science Park, among other institutions, MOFA said.

The trip comes amid reports that China had sought to block it. An Associated Press report published on Nov. 20, citing the Panamanian daily La Prensa, said Chinese embassy staff in Panama asked a total of 10 lawmakers to "immediately cancel" plans to visit Taiwan.

Panama does not maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei, having switched recognition to Beijing in 2017, and President José Raúl Mulino said before the trip that it did not have his administration's approval.

In comments cited by AP, several lawmakers defended the visit, saying it would give them exposure to "models and experiences" relevant to Panama's modernization, while others pointed to "investment and cooperation" opportunities.

According to Panama's Metro Libre, the lawmakers said the visit was arranged at Taiwan's invitation, with lodging, meals and local transportation to be covered by the Taiwanese government.

Previously commenting on China's interference with Panamanian lawmakers' planned Taiwan trip, Taiwan's MOFA condemned Beijing for once again trying to intervene in Taiwan's "normal exchanges with other countries."

MOFA said that Taiwan has always taken an open-minded and friendly stance to equally conduct exchanges with friends from around the world that hold the same ideals of democracy, freedom, respect for human rights and rule of law.