Bilateral relations between Taiwan and Panama have not changed, despite rumors that certain high-ranking government officials from the Central American ally are upset with Taipei over a meeting with a politician from the opposition party, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
“Reports claiming that Taiwan-Panama relations have been downgraded or are on the brink of collapse are baseless,” Wu Chin-mu (吳進木), director-general of the ministry’s Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, said in a letter to the Chinese-language China Times.
Wu’s statement in the newspaper came one day after one of the China Times’ correspondents wrote about a “diplomatic crisis.”
Panama, one of Taiwan’s 23 diplomatic allies, became dissatisfied with the country in January when Foreign Affairs Minister Timothy Yang (楊進添) met with Panamanian Vice President Juan Carlos Varela, who is a member of the opposition party, during an overseas trip, the report said.
The meeting suggested interference in Panama’s internal affairs, the report added.
In retaliation, Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli has delayed accepting the credentials of Diego Chou (周麟), Taiwan’s new ambassador to Panama, for two months, the report said.
“There is no timetable as to when a nation’s leader should receive the credentials,” Wu said, adding that Ambassador Chou was already engaging in “normal interactions” with the government.
Both sides are negotiating on a suitable time for Martinelli to accept Chou’s credentials, he added.
Chou presented a certified copy of his letter of credentials to Panama’s foreign minister shortly after his arrival in the country, according to ministry spokesperson James Chang (章計平) on Thursday.
The acceptance of a letter of credentials confirms the authority of a new ambassador and the recognition of the nation and government that he or she represents.
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