Panama opens embassy in China

Panama has opened an embassy in China, the Central American country's Foreign Ministry said, deepening its links with the world's No. two economy after its diplomatic break with longtime ally Taiwan. 

Panama established diplomatic ties with China in June and broke with Taiwan in a major victory for Beijing, as it lures



away the dwindling number of countries that have formal relations with the self-ruled island that China regards as a wayward province. 

Panama's Foreign Ministry yesterday said in a statement that the embassy was already functioning, although an ambassador had yet to be installed.