It seems my recent article about Taiwan must have struck a cord with either their diplomats or Panama politicians because just two days later Panama announced it will get a renovated stadium and some other goodies. Still small potatoes by Costa Rica/China standards, but a beginning. PANAMA CITY, Panama (AP) - Taiwan gave Panama US$6 million (¤4.03 million) to finance several projects, including a marine lab and the renovation of Panama City’s main soccer stadium, officials said Tuesday.
The donation, US$2.5 million (¤1.68 million) of which was handed over immediately, will also fund the renovation of a jail and the construction of 300 bamboo homes for the Ngobe-Bugle Indians in Panama’s western provinces of Veraguas and Chiriqui.

The new Pacific marine lab will replace a small technical station near the port of Vacamonte and will research and promote the reproduction of threatened fish and other aquatic species.
«This contribution is founded on the strong solidarity and friendship that Panama and Taiwan have always maintained,» the Taiwanese government said in a statement.

Taiwan is fighting to keep a dwindling number of diplomatic allies as it presses its case that it is a sovereign nation. Taiwan split with China amid civil war in 1949, and China considers the island a self-governing, breakaway province.

The island announced Monday that it had lost the recognition of Malawi, leaving it with only 23 diplomatic allies, including Panama and most of Central America. Costa Rica withdrew its support in favor of China in June.
Speaking to The Associated Press on Monday in Guatemala, where he attended the presidential inauguration of Alvaro Colom, Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian reached out to his remaining allies, urging them to open commercial offices in Beijing to do business with the global powerhouse, but keep diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Source: http://primapanama.blogs.com/