Led by members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), Panama's National Assembly on Tuesday formally established a cross-party parliamentary exchange group with Taiwan’s Legislature. Of the assembly’s 71 seats, 46 lawmakers have joined the new group, making it one of Panama's largest parliamentary organizations.

IPAC links more than 300 legislators across 45 national and regional parliaments and is known for its hardline stance toward Beijing. The Panama-Taiwan group, driven by Panamanian IPAC members, spans the country’s major political parties. 

With Beijing continuing to expand political and economic influence in Central America, the creation of a sizable parliamentary cooperation mechanism between Panama and Taiwan carries particular significance. 

Panamanian lawmaker José Antonio Pérez Barboni called the move a step in the right direction towards democracy and the beginning of closer economic and trade ties, saying he looked forward to further advancing bilateral relations. Fellow legislator Joan Manuel Guevara Rodríguez said the group shows that, even without formal diplomatic ties, both sides can pursue parliamentary diplomacy, especially as they seek to defend sovereignty and resist external pressure. Both are IPAC members. 

Panamanian legislators have visited Taiwan frequently in recent years, including IPAC-led delegations in November 2025 and February 2026, and a July 2026 trip led by Agriculture and Fisheries Committee chair Orlando Carrasquilla.