The Taiwanese Navy's "Dunmu" fleet crossed the Panama Canal in the early hours of April 3, an infrequent event in recent years that once again draws international attention to the interoceanic route. Annually deployed, the fleet not only trains naval personnel but also projects Taiwan's presence beyond its waters. The warships set sail from Taiwan in February on a mission to conduct high-seas training and strengthen ties with allied nations in the Caribbean and Central America. Before reaching Panama, the vessels made a stop in the Marshall Islands in March. The flotilla consists of the support ship Panshi and the frigates Yue Fei and Di Hua. They then resumed their course toward the Caribbean, where official visits are scheduled as part of an itinerary combining military training and diplomatic presence. The transit through the Canal was conducted under the "innocent passage" framework, complying with the international norms that govern this strategic waterway. This agreement guarantees the right of its vessels to use the route without distinction. The presence of these warships is uncommon today. A discreet transit, but loaded with significance amid an increasingly tense global scenario for maritime trade. Although Panama broke relations with Taipei in 2017 to establish them with Beijing, Taiwan remains a signatory to the Canal Neutrality Protocols since 1980. Without fanfare, but with movements that do not go unnoticed.
