Of note, Panama was also one of the more significant countries to maintain diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, also known as Taiwan, until 2017, when the government of then-President Juan Carlos Varela recognized the People's Republic of China and began diplomatic relations with it.
This is worth noting because Panama was one of the more significant countries to maintain diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, also known as Taiwan, prior to 2017, when President Juan Carlos Varela's government acknowledged the People's Republic of China and initiated formal diplomatic ties with it.