China-Panama diplomatic relations ushered in a new dawn between both sides

Central American country Panama established formal diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China after the former broke its ties with Taiwan on June 13, 2017. It is a significant warning to Taiwan independence forces. The Panamanian government said it recognized there was "only one China in the world" and considered Taiwan to be an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. It is worth pointing out that the one-China principle is a consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado, Panama's vice president and foreign minister, sign the joint communique in Beijing, capital of China, June 13, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

Undoubtedly, this historic move serves the national interests of both China and Panama. The establishment of full diplomatic relations between China and Panama reflects the increasing national strength and rising international status of the Asian country. In the light of Panama's diplomatic shift, it is hoped that Taiwan's current Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration will make the right decisions on issues related to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, embracing the 1992 Consensus in which Taiwan and the mainland agreed there is one China.

According to news reports, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Panamanian Vice President and Foreign Minister Isabel de Saint Malo signed a joint communique establishing diplomatic relations while meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 13. According to the communique, the Panama government broke its "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan, and promised that it will never establish any official relations with it, nor conduct any official contact. Hailing the establishment of ties as an important political decision made by the Panama government, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, "This is a historic moment, and the China-Panama relationship has opened a new chapter."

Condemning Panama's act and Beijing's moves to poach Taiwan's diplomatic allies, Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen angrily said Taiwan would not engage in "checkbook diplomacy" to compete with China for allies. Tsai warned that "coercion and threats" won't bring Taiwan and China closer. However, Instead of blaming the mainland for its loss of allies, Tsai and her followers should come back to the right path, recognizing the 1992 Consensus which endorses the one-China principle.

Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela said in a televised address on June 12 that he was "convinced that this is the correct path for our country." Foreign Minister Isabel de Saint Malo said she hoped the new relationship would lead to trade, investment and tourism opportunities, in particular, "exporting more goods from Panama to China." Wang said he was sure relations between the two countries would have a "bright future."

As a sovereign nation with a quarter of its population living in poverty, Panama has the right to choose its own path of development. In his announcement of the establishment of relations on June 12, Panamanian President Varela said that economic ties between the two nations were one reason for his decision.

China has always played a significant role in Panama's economy. In recent years China has become the second-biggest investor in the Panama Canal, the chief marine shipping link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, after the United States. China is the source of 19 percent of the goods that pass through the canal annually. In May 2016, Landbridge Group of China purchased Margarita Island Port, Panama's largest port. Panama has also been positioning itself as the main hub from which to transport Chinese goods to Latin America. China welcomes Panama's participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The newly-established diplomatic relationship between Panama and China is a great blow to Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen who visited Panama on her first overseas trip as president in June last year. Panama's severance of diplomatic ties with Taiwan sent out a strong signal to the Tsai administration that more countries with relations with Taiwan will break those bonds and establish relations ties with China.

Since Tsai Ing-wen took office on May 20 last year, three countries have severed ties with Taiwan. Now only 20 countries have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, mostly small Caribbean and African nations that in the past had limited economic ties with China.

Tsai claimed she would win dignity for Taiwan from the international community, but Taiwan has ended up having less space on the world stage. Panama's switching of diplomatic allegiance to China has added more pressure on Taiwan's current leadership over its increasing diplomatic isolation. Taiwan's Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus demanded Tsai give a presentation at the legislature on the severance of ties with Panama. With the rapport of the Ma Ying-jeou –era of KMT gone, Tsai has seen one door after another slammed shut on her administration.

The peaceful development of cross-Strait relations has been broken since Tsai Ing-wen took office and refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus. The DPP administration angered people on both sides of the Strait. Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said, "It is clear who is changing the status quo of cross-strait relations and who lacks sincerity to pursue the path of peaceful development."

The Global Times said in an editorial on June 13, "Tsai Ing-wen should understand that the 1992 Consensus is an important political foundation to maintain stable cross-Strait relations. If she takes step to weaken this foundation, her administration will be bound to suffer the consequences. Taiwan independence thought will have to retreat in front of an ever powerful mainland. There is a tough road ahead for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)."

Cross-Strait relations have stalled this year due to Tsai Ing-wen's stubborn refusal to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus. Tsai and her deluded DPP followers had better wake up from their delusion, acknowledge their wrong-doing and mistakes, face the factual reality of an ascending China and hasten to confirm the 1992 Consensus. There is no other alternative.

The DPP administration must remember that Taiwan is a part of China, just like the mainland is a part of China, which is the consensus of the international community. The United Nations shares this consensus, so Taiwan was expelled from the UN on October 25, 1971 and China entered the UN to replace Taiwan as the sole legitimate government of all China following Resolution 2758.

There is "no way out" for Taiwan to refuse to accept the 1992 Consensus. The one-China principle not only concerns the core interest of China and the feelings of the 1.3 billion Chinese, but also is the prerequisite and political foundation of developing relations between China and foreign countries. Only by acknowledging the consensus could cross-Strait relations develop peacefully and the people on both sides of the Strait realize common development. It is hoped that the Tsai administration will stick to the one-China policy with practical action and support China's peaceful reunification.

The future of Taiwan must not be shaped by the DPP and Washington, but by the Chinese mainland. The military status quo across the Taiwan Strait needs to be reshaped as a response and punishment to the Tsai administration's destruction of the political status quo in cross-Strait relations. It is hoped that peace in the Taiwan Strait won't be disrupted. The Tsai administration must remember that as China ascends and becomes a world power, it has the ability to reunite Taiwan with the rest of the country as it did with Hong Kong on July 1, 1997 after 137-years of British colonial rule.

The author is the Secretary of the New Horizon Radio Listeners' Club in West Bengal, India.