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Lawrence Chung

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen made her first public appearance overseas at the opening of the expanded Panama Canal on Sunday as Taipei seeks to cement ties with its Latin American ally.
Analysts say Taiwan is anxious to maintain diplomatic ties with Panama as Beijing increases its influence in the country.
Tsai was shown on television with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and other foreign dignitaries including Jill Biden, the wife of US Vice-President Joe ­Biden.
During the opening ceremony, Tsai and other attendees ­witnessed a mainland Chinese container ship clear the canal’s massive new locks as it became the first vessel to officially pass through the expanded system. The mainland cargo ship was renamed Cosco Shipping Panama in honour of the event.
Varela presented Cosco with an award marking the passage and received a model of the Chinese vessel in return, Xinhua ­reported.

There have been reports over the years that Panama – one of Taipei’s 22 diplomatic allies – hopes to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing.
Tsai also held bilateral talks with four of Taiwan’s central American allies, discussing ways to strengthen cooperation, according to the island’s Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang. Asked if Tsai spoke to Jill Biden on Sunday, Huang said: “We have no information about this yet.”
Taiwan’s president-elect Tsai Ing-wen has dilemma as Panama invites her and President Xi Jinping to same ceremony
Jack Lee, professor of public administration at National Open University, said Tsai needed to shore up ties with Panama because it was a major ally for Taiwan in Latin America. Tsai’s visit was also a chance for the island to raise its international profile.
But Taipei has also kept Tsai’s visit low-key so as not to upset ­Beijing.
“[Tsai] hopes to maintain a stable relationship with Beijing in line with her pledge that she would not make any moves that would surprise either China or the United States,” Lee said.
Tsai’s government has been careful not to give Beijing any ­excuse for criticism after the mainland lambasted the island’s new president for failing to publicly acknowledge the 1992 cross-strait consensus that there is only “one China”.
Taiwan’s not-so-young new cabinet hits one snag after another
At her inauguration in May, Tsai stopped short of acknowledging the consensus but pledged to maintain the cross-strait status quo in line with Taiwan’s constitution, which includes the “one China” principle.
Beijing has stressed that the consensus is the sole political basis upon which the two sides can continue talks and ­exchanges. It has stepped up pressure on the Tsai government, including cutting the number of mainland tourists to the island and suspending the institutionalised communication channel with Taipei to force Tsai to accept the consensus.

After her three-day trip to Panama, Tsai will visit another ally, Paraguay, to cement ties.
Taiwanese lawmakers say Tsai’s government must exercise caution in its dealings with Beijing or risk losing formal diplomatic ties with Panama.
“We must be well prepared to face being snubbed by Panama,” opposition Kuomintang legislator Johnny Chiang said.


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Tsai Ing-wen

Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen tries to shore up ties with Panama to counter Beijing’s influence in Latin America

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen with Panama’s Deputy Director of Protocol Francisco Torres upon her arrival at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. Photo: EPA

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (C) waves to the press during her visit to the Miraflores section of the Panama Canal on June 25,2016 in Panama City. Panama will officially open its canal on Sunday to far bigger cargo ships after nearly a decade of expansion work aimed at boosting transit revenues and global trade. On Sunday, a VIP ceremony will be held on the banks of the canal to inaugurate the completion of the works. / AFP PHOTO / JOHAN ORDONEZ

epa05391417 President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen (2-R), visits the Miraflores Lock, Panama Canal, Panama, 25 June 2016. Tsai Ing-wen is to attend the opening ceremony of the the Panama Canal expansion project on 26 June. EPA/JEFFREY ARGUEDAS

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