China–Panama relations
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China |
Panama |
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China–Panama relations are the bilateral relationships between the
After breaking off relations with the
History
Relations with the PRC began with a letter sent in 2015 to the Chinese government that, according to Isabel Saint Malo, Panama's vice president, was titled "Panama wants to make ties with China". The contents of the letter are kept confidential, as well as the reasons of why it was sent. It has also been kept confidential who delivered the letter and assisted in the switchover process, which is only described as "a distinguished member of the Chinese community living in Panama". The ex-ambassador of the US to Panama, John Feeley, said that he had asked Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela about the switchover in 2016 but Varela lied to him, saying that there were no plans to make the switchover. He also said that Varela did not tell him the truth until 1 hour before the nationwide announcement. Others questioned why the Panamanian government continues to use equipment donated by Taiwan. The Panamanian government initially gave no reason, later saying that one reason was because "China is the second largest user of the Panama Canal" and President Varela said it was because he "couldn't accept it anymore" and "that's what every responsible leader would do". The Panamanian government said that the switchover was to comply with the one-China policy. The ROC government said that Panama was its "number one ally" and that it would not participate in Beijing's checkbook diplomacy. The Taiwanese government complained that Panama maliciously hid the switchover process until the last moment. In the first year of diplomatic relations, 19 treaties were signed. Varela said that its main purpose was to allow Chinese nationals to easily invest in Panama. Controversies over the sudden switchover, included lack of due process, unusually high levels of confidentiality, and the fact that a few weeks before the switchover, Taiwan had donated medical equipment to Panama. In 2018, the first flight from Beijing To Panama by Air China landed in Tocumen International Airport, with a technical stop in Houston. Varela called it a milestone in Panamanian aviation. Due to this new route, the Panamanian ministry of tourism expected at least 40,000 Chinese tourist visits per year. “History and socioeconomic reality” were cited as reasons. Varela said that the move was backed by diplomatic relationships dating from 1912 and that the move strengthened the existing relationships, despite the fact that those relationships were with the ROC, not the PRC. As a result, Panama City was almost immediately added to China's list of officially approved tourist destinations.[3][4][5][6]
The Chinese Communist Party (or government) has offered the Panameñista party-led government a free feasibility study for the planned 4th set of locks in the Panama Canal in order to gain a competitive advantage in bids for choosing the company to build the locks, not to mention plans for a 1200-hectare industrial park on the Pacific coast and a 4-hectare campus in
On December 2, Chinese president and
China has given Panama the status of
Television Station
See also
References
- ^ Lu, Hui (13 June 2017). "China, Panama establish diplomatic ties". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
- ^ "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Regular Press Conference on July 26, 2017" (Press release). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
According to the agreement between the two sides, the trade office of China in Panama has formally become China's Embassy in Panama on July 13 and has begun performing its duties.
- ^ "Aterriza el primer vuelo de Air China en Panamá". 5 April 2018.
- ^ "Air China inaugura vuelo Beijing-Houston-Panamá".
- ^ "Panama cuts ties with Taiwan in favour of China". BBC News. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ "Conoce la posible ruta y estaciones del tren Panamá-Chiriquí". 17 February 2018.
- ^ "Panamá, ¿una franquicia china?".
- ^ "Panamá espera jugosas inversiones de China".
- ^ "China, una agenda ambiciosa | la Prensa Panamá". 28 July 2017. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
- ^ "Conoce las inversiones que China planea hacer en Panamá". 18 November 2017.
- ^ "Chinese President Xi arrives in Portugal to boost trade ties - Channel NewsAsia". www.channelnewsasia.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018.
- ^ "China wants to strengthen partnership with Portugal: Xi". Reuters. 2 December 2018.
- ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/xi-jinping-heads-to-portugal-as-chinas-influence-worries-eu-partners/articleshow/66930246.cms [dead link]
- ^ "Varela expresa confianza en consorcio que construirá cuarto puente sobre el Canal". 4 December 2018.