China has warned that some members of Panama’s National Assembly could face “serious consequences” after forming a parliamentary exchange group with Taiwan.

The warning appears aimed at both Panama and Taiwan, signaling that Beijing expects strict adherence to the “one-China” principle and that crossing what it considers a red line could carry significant repercussions.

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Panamanian lawmakers visit Taiwan’s legislature on July 9. China issued a strong warning on Sept. 14 as a growing number of Panamanian lawmakers took increasingly overt pro-Taiwan steps. / The Beijing News

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun issued the warning at a regular press briefing on Sept. 14 when asked about the recent formation of the “Panama-Taiwan Legislative Yuan Bipartisan Exchange Committee” and the participation of a U.S. lawmaker in an online meeting.

“There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory,” Guo said. “China firmly opposes countries that have diplomatic relations with China engaging in any form of official exchanges or contact with the Taiwan authorities. We will not tolerate any external force interfering in China’s internal affairs.”

“We advise a small number of politicians to clearly understand the situation,” he added. “Anyone who crosses the line or oversteps the boundary on the Taiwan question will inevitably face serious consequences.”

According to Beijing diplomatic sources on Sept. 14, some Panamanian lawmakers formally launched the bipartisan parliamentary exchange committee with Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan on Sept. 8, led by members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, or IPAC.

IPAC is an alliance of lawmakers from 45 countries and territories, with more than 300 members. It is widely known for taking a hard line on China.

According to the sources, 46 of Panama’s 71 lawmakers are participating in the exchange committee, suggesting that a substantial portion of the country’s legislature is far from pro-China.

The Chinese Embassy in Panama also issued a statement through its WeChat account on Sept. 8, criticizing the move.

“The establishment by Panamanian lawmakers of an ‘exchange committee’ with the so-called legislative body of one of China’s provinces constitutes blatant interference in China’s internal affairs,” an embassy spokesperson said.

At its official launch ceremony that day, the committee also highlighted a congratulatory video message from U.S. Republican Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, signaling that its opposition to Beijing had taken on a broader form of international coordination.

                                                                                                           Hong Soon-do