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| Panama Establishes Ties With China, Further Isolating Taiwan | Panama Establishes Ties With China, Further Isolating Taiwan |
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| TAIPEI, Taiwan — Panama has severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of recognizing China, the latest in a series of developments adding to the island’s isolation on the world stage. | TAIPEI, Taiwan — Panama has severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of recognizing China, the latest in a series of developments adding to the island’s isolation on the world stage. |
| Only 19 countries and the Vatican now recognize Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China. Many of those countries are in Central America, including Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and the decision by Panama, announced on Monday, appeared to put those relationships in doubt. | Only 19 countries and the Vatican now recognize Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China. Many of those countries are in Central America, including Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and the decision by Panama, announced on Monday, appeared to put those relationships in doubt. |
| China refuses to have diplomatic ties with countries that officially recognize Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory and has threatened to annex by force, if necessary. Since 1945, Taiwan has been ruled by the Republic of China government, which lost the Chinese civil war and fled the mainland in 1949. | China refuses to have diplomatic ties with countries that officially recognize Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory and has threatened to annex by force, if necessary. Since 1945, Taiwan has been ruled by the Republic of China government, which lost the Chinese civil war and fled the mainland in 1949. |
| The news is a major setback for Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen. She visited Panama last summer, shortly after taking office, for the inauguration of President Juan Carlos Varela and the opening of an expanded Panama Canal. The first ship to sail through the expanded canal was a Chinese one. | The news is a major setback for Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen. She visited Panama last summer, shortly after taking office, for the inauguration of President Juan Carlos Varela and the opening of an expanded Panama Canal. The first ship to sail through the expanded canal was a Chinese one. |
| In January, Ms. Tsai returned to the region to attend the inauguration of President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua. She also made stops in Guatemala and Honduras, during a trip that was presented domestically as shoring up Taiwan’s alliances in Central America. | In January, Ms. Tsai returned to the region to attend the inauguration of President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua. She also made stops in Guatemala and Honduras, during a trip that was presented domestically as shoring up Taiwan’s alliances in Central America. |
| Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “indignation and regret” at the decision. It said that in addition to withdrawing its diplomatic mission, it would cease all bilateral cooperation and aid. | Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “indignation and regret” at the decision. It said that in addition to withdrawing its diplomatic mission, it would cease all bilateral cooperation and aid. |
| Panama “was at the top of the list” of Taiwan’s most important remaining diplomatic allies, said Ross Feingold, a senior adviser in Taipei at D.C. International Advisory. | Panama “was at the top of the list” of Taiwan’s most important remaining diplomatic allies, said Ross Feingold, a senior adviser in Taipei at D.C. International Advisory. |
| “It is very possible that the remaining countries will switch,” Mr. Feingold said of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in Central America, noting that China tended to space out such moves to maximize public relations and strategic value. | “It is very possible that the remaining countries will switch,” Mr. Feingold said of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in Central America, noting that China tended to space out such moves to maximize public relations and strategic value. |
| China’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday in a statement that the establishment of ties with Panama was done “in accordance with the interests and wishes of the peoples of both countries.” Xinhua, the Chinese state-run news agency, said Panama acknowledged in a joint communiqué that the Beijing government is “the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.” | |
| Beijing began ratcheting up pressure on Ms. Tsai’s government shortly after her inauguration speech in May 2016, in which she declined to yield to Chinese pressure to recognize both sides as part of one China, with each having its own interpretation of what that means. | Beijing began ratcheting up pressure on Ms. Tsai’s government shortly after her inauguration speech in May 2016, in which she declined to yield to Chinese pressure to recognize both sides as part of one China, with each having its own interpretation of what that means. |
| Since then, China has closed official communication channels with Taiwan and has used its clout to prevent the island’s inclusion as an observer in United Nations agencies, most recently the World Health Organization’s annual assembly in Geneva. In December, the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The move signaled the resumption of China poaching Taiwan’s allies after a moratorium under Ms. Tsai’s China-friendly predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou. | Since then, China has closed official communication channels with Taiwan and has used its clout to prevent the island’s inclusion as an observer in United Nations agencies, most recently the World Health Organization’s annual assembly in Geneva. In December, the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The move signaled the resumption of China poaching Taiwan’s allies after a moratorium under Ms. Tsai’s China-friendly predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou. |