The National Assembly of Panama has taken a significant step in international relations by forming a multiparty interparliamentary friendship group with Taiwan’s legislative body. This newly established platform aims to enhance parliamentary exchanges and foster bilateral collaboration. The group comprises 45 out of Panama’s 71 lawmakers, making up over 60% of the assembly. Prominent figures such as National Assembly President Shirley Castañedas, along with Vice Presidents Manuel Cohen and Manuel Cheng, are among the members who will participate in this initiative.
This development has been warmly received by Taiwan, which sees it as an opportunity to bolster parliamentary diplomacy and broaden cooperation grounded in shared values like democracy, freedom, and human rights. The formation of this friendship group follows the visit of more than 20 Panamanian lawmakers to Taiwan within the last six months, signaling a renewed interest in strengthening ties despite Panama’s decision to sever formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in June 2017.
The creation of this parliamentary platform marks a notable shift and is expected to facilitate more extensive dialogue and collaboration in areas that are of mutual interest to both sides. It also aims to fortify people-to-people connections, potentially leading to more profound engagement between the two nations.
While formal diplomatic ties were cut six years ago, the move to form this interparliamentary group indicates a willingness to explore alternative avenues of cooperation. Panama’s lawmakers, through this initiative, are setting a precedent for how countries can maintain meaningful interactions despite the lack of official diplomatic relations.