Panama's parliament has set up a cross-party group to work with Taiwan's legislature, a win for Taipei in a region where Beijing has been gaining ground.

• 46 of Panama's 71 lawmakers joined, making it one of the largest groups in the chamber.
• Members of IPAC, a global alliance of lawmakers known for taking a hard line on Beijing, drove the effort and pulled in all major Panamanian parties.
• Panama switched recognition to Beijing years ago, so this is parliament-level diplomacy without formal ties.
• Panamanian lawmakers frame it as a first step toward closer trade links, with strong interest in Taiwan's tech industry.
• Three Panamanian delegations have visited Taiwan in the past year, including one led by the congress farming and fisheries committee chair.

Outlook: Expect more visits and trade talk, and pushback from Beijing, which treats any official Taiwan contact as a red line.