{"id":18569,"date":"2026-11-06T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=18569"},"modified":"2026-11-05T21:08:40","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T02:08:40","slug":"50-of-71-lawmakers-report-beijing-diplomatic-influence-threats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/politics-government\/50-of-71-lawmakers-report-beijing-diplomatic-influence-threats\/","title":{"rendered":"50 of 71 Lawmakers Report Beijing Diplomatic Influence Threats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Panamanian legislators told an international parliamentary summit<\/a> in The Hague this week that Beijing diplomatic influence<\/a><\/strong> now includes direct intimidation of lawmakers who refuse to align with China’s One China policy<\/a>. Six deputies from Panama’s National Assembly joined 52 lawmakers from 30 countries at the annual Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China<\/a> (IPAC) summit, hosted by the Dutch Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The delegation detailed what they described as escalating harassment from China’s embassy in Panama City<\/a> following their recent push to establish a parliamentary friendship group with Taiwan<\/a>. That initiative secured backing from 50 of the Assembly’s 71 deputies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ronald
Ronald Ameth De Gracia reported receiving threats from the Chinese Embassy during an international summit in the Netherlands.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beijing Diplomatic Influence<\/a> and Direct Warnings to Lawmakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ronald Ameth De Gracia, IPAC co-president and Panamanian deputy, disclosed that Chinese embassy officials issued direct warnings to him after he visited Taiwan. He also flagged institutional vulnerability to cyberattacks originating from Asia, a concern he said Panama remains ill-equipped to address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other members of the delegation echoed similar accounts of political pressure. They noted that such intimidation tactics have become increasingly recurrent against parliamentarians who deviate from Beijing’s stance on Taiwan. The pattern, they argued, reflects a broader strategy of transnational repression targeting elected officials across Latin America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"During
During President Varela’s administration, Panama severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan, sparking a wave of outrage on the Asian island.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Economic Promises Remain Unfulfilled Since 2017 Diplomatic Shift<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Panama severed official ties with Taipei in 2017 in favor of Beijing. Seven years later, the delegation said promised reciprocal economic benefits have largely failed to materialize. Trade volumes and investment flows have not matched initial expectations outlined during the diplomatic transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawmakers contrasted this with what they called the tangible goodwill generated through parliamentary engagement with Taiwan. They did not call for reversing diplomatic recognition but emphasized the need for transparency about what Panama actually receives from its relationship with China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diputado denuncia amenazas de la Embajada de China en cumbre internacional \nEl diputado Ronald Ameth De Gracia asegur\u00f3 que recibi\u00f3 amenazas de la Embajada china en Panam\u00e1 en dos ocasiones, durante una visita que realiz\u00f3 a Taiw\u00e1n meses atr\u00e1s.\nhttps:\/\/t.co\/y1J5egTM7R<\/p>— Diario Critica.Pa (@criticaenlinea) November 5, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>\n