During his weekly address, President José Raúl Mulino stated that the trip of some deputies to Taiwan is sponsored by those seeking to stir up conflict in Panama regarding its relationship with China. "This trip is tainted by those who want to stir up trouble here in Panama over its relationship with China," the president said. He recalled that Panama maintains diplomatic relations with China and not with Taiwan. He emphasized that the Executive Branch is the only one constitutionally empowered to set the country's foreign policy. "I disagree and my government does not endorse that trip under any circumstances," he commented. Meanwhile, he questioned the deputies' argument for the visit, claiming they were seeking economic opportunities. "It is a lie that the deputies can go there (Taiwan) to talk about investments and projects," he added. And he insisted that Panama cannot become a stage for geopolitical confrontations between world powers. "I will not allow them to bring a problem to Panama that is not Panama's problem," he said.
