In a statement, the diplomatic mission noted that “forming small anti-China circles at the global level is a common tactic of the United States to suppress and contain China.”

It also described the participation of the United States ambassador to the isthmus, Kevin Marino Cabrera, as a “shameful” act, inciting a group of parliamentarians to join a group that seeks to “spread lies and rumors” about China but lacks any credibility.

“Sino-Panamanian relations benefit both countries and peoples and enjoy widespread support among all sectors of the country,” the statement emphasized.

The embassy reiterated to the nine representatives who decided to join the IPAC that they should “avoid serving the geopolitical interests of the United States.”

Cabrera has been quite active since arriving in the Panama Canal country in late April, and this is not the first time that his comments or actions have attacked what he calls the “malign” presence of the Chinese Communist Party in Panama. On August 22, the Chinese ambassador to Panama, Xu Xueyuan, also called on her US counterpart to respect cooperative relations and suspend confrontations.

jdt/mem/ga