July 14, 2017
No.120
The withdrawal of the Republic of China diplomatic mission from Panama has been completed by July 12, 2017, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China has asked the Panamanian missions in Taiwan to complete the withdrawal by the same day in the wake of the termination of diplomatic relations between the two states. The relations and interactions between the citizens of Taiwan and Panama will remain unchanged.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) abides faithfully by the terms of treaties it entered into and performs its international obligations in accordance with international law. Pursuant to the fundamental principles of international law on treaties, the severance of diplomatic relations between parties to a treaty does not affect the legal relations established between them by the treaty except insofar as the existence of diplomatic relations is indispensable for the application of the treaty.
The existence of diplomatic relations is not indispensable for the application of the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Republic of Panama, and as such, the effect of the said treaty shall be determined by the governing provisions thereof. In the event that Panama fails to perform its treaty obligations under the said treaty or indeed any other treaties, agreements, MOUs and other instruments in force between it and the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Republic of China (Taiwan) Government will defend its legal rights through due process in accordance with the governing rules of international law, so as the interests and rights of the citizens of the Republic of China (Taiwan) with respect to trade, investment and other activities in Panama are protected. (E)