Third Delegation Visit Within a Year! Panamanian Lawmaker: Actively Promote Congressional Taiwan Friendship Group Upon Return

A cross-party delegation of Panamanian lawmakers visited Taiwan for the third time within a year. On the 9th, they were hosted for a luncheon by Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu, and later in the afternoon met with Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu and opposition party legislators.

According to reports, Orlando Carrasquilla, a Panamanian lawmaker and Chairman of the Agricultural and Fisheries Committee who led the delegation, stated that upon returning home, he will continue expanding pro-Taiwan support and urge Panama's executive branch to seriously acknowledge Taiwan. Another member of the delegation expressed plans to actively promote the establishment of a 'Taiwan Friendship Group' within Panama's Congress.

Panama severed diplomatic ties with the Republic of China in June 2017 and established relations with the People's Republic of China. In response, Taiwan immediately halted all bilateral cooperation and aid, and withdrew its embassy and technical mission personnel.

In November 2025, two co-chairs of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) from Panama's Congress led a delegation of seven cross-party lawmakers to visit Taiwan. In February this year, José Antonio Pérez, Executive Secretary of Panama's IPAC and Chairman of the 'Canal and Infrastructure Committee,' led another delegation of six lawmakers to Taiwan.

Less than six months later, on June 6, Carrasquilla arrived in Taiwan with a seven-member cross-party delegation. The visit included meetings with Vice President萧美琴, a luncheon hosted by Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, and meetings with President Han Kuo-yu, the Mainland Affairs Council, the National Health Insurance Administration, Kaohsiung City Government's Water Resources Bureau, the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), as well as site visits to the Hsinchu Science Park, Kaohsiung Software Park, Kaohsiung Port, and the Beitou Incinerator. The goal was to gain firsthand understanding of Taiwan's pluralistic democratic society, current political and economic developments, and the role of its high-tech industries in the global semiconductor supply chain, exploring potential cooperation across various fields.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release on the evening of the 9th, stating that Minister Joseph Wu hosted Carrasquilla and the cross-party Panamanian legislative delegation for a luncheon. During the event, the delegation engaged in in-depth discussions with representatives from Taiwan's seafood import and shipping industries regarding recent bilateral trade and future cooperation directions. They expressed gratitude for Taiwan's long-standing cooperation programs in education and agriculture, which have brought tangible benefits to Panama's people and national development. All parties expressed optimism about continuing to promote economic and trade cooperation, enhancing investment exchanges, and building broader mutually beneficial relationships.

Carrasquilla: Expand Pro-Taiwan Forces After Return

According to the Ministry, Minister Joseph Wu welcomed the fact that Panamanian lawmakers had organized three delegations to visit Taiwan within months, thanking the delegation for their practical support of legislative exchanges between Taiwan and Panama. Wu emphasized that the Panama Canal is an indispensable global logistics hub, while Taiwan plays a leading international role in semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and non-red supply chains, highlighting strong potential for collaboration. He expressed hope that the delegation would continue to exert influence upon returning home to support friendly interactions, while Taiwan's government would actively develop bilateral friendly relations based on practicality, openness, and mutual benefit.

Carrasquilla stated during the luncheon that he would continue expanding pro-Taiwan forces and urge Panama's executive branch to recognize Taiwan's importance and further strengthen bilateral relations. Roberto Zúñiga, another Panamanian lawmaker accompanying the delegation, noted that Taiwan is Panama's second-largest export destination and the top Asian investor in Panama. He emphasized that both countries share values of democracy, freedom, and market economy, and despite changes in official relations, the deep historical friendship remains, hoping this visit would open a new chapter in Taiwan-Panama relations.

Han Kuo-yu: Taiwan-Panama People's Friendship Endures

Meanwhile, the Legislative Yuan issued a press release stating that President Han Kuo-yu received the seven-member cross-party Panamanian legislative delegation on the afternoon of the 9th, accompanied by KMT legislator Chang Chia-chun, Taiwan People's Party legislator Tsai Chun-tsou, and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi.

Han quoted the famous line, 'Nothing is more precious than an old friend arriving during stormy weather,' thanking the delegation for visiting despite the approaching typhoon, demonstrating their importance and support for Taiwan. He noted that Taiwan and Panama share over a century of deep friendship, and although official relations have changed in recent years, the people-to-people bond and democratic partnership remain strong.

Han mentioned that Taiwan imports large quantities of white shrimp from Panama annually, accounting for nearly 40% of Taiwan's total white shrimp imports, indicating a solid foundation in economic and trade exchanges. He highlighted Taiwan's world-class competitiveness in semiconductors, high-quality healthcare, SMEs, and functional textiles, expressing hope for deeper cooperation in trade, technology, and industry to create more mutually beneficial opportunities and enhance the well-being of both peoples.

In response to delegation members' plans to promote a 'Taiwan Friendship Group' in Panama's Congress, Han stated that if such a group is established, he would encourage Taiwan's legislators to simultaneously promote a 'Panama Congressional Friendship Association' to further strengthen legislative exchanges.

Carrasquilla reiterated that Taiwan and Panama share over a century of friendship, and despite challenges in official relations, the people's bond remains unchanged, expressing hope for continued deepened exchanges and cooperation across more fields. Medín Jiménez Pitti, another Panamanian lawmaker on the delegation, stated that the over-a-century-long historical friendship between Taiwan and Panama is invaluable. Panama possesses rich natural resources, the Panama Canal, and the Colón Free Trade Zone, and he hopes to attract more Taiwanese enterprises to invest, jointly promoting economic development and people's well-being.