Panama president denies switch to China is checkbook diplomacy

Panama’s decision to ditch long-standing ties with self-ruled Taiwan and switch recognition to China had nothing to do with “checkbook diplomacy”, its president has told Chinese state television.

Panama established diplomatic relations with China in June in a major victory for Beijing, as it lures away the dwindling number of countries that have formal relations with the island China claims as its own.

Taiwan’s government said at the time it was sorry and angry over Panama’s decision, and that it would not compete with China in what it described as a “diplomatic money game”.

Source: Reuters