Lawmakers from dozens of countries met in The Hague to discuss China's growing pressure campaigns, with Panama's delegation saying Chinese harassment of its pro-Taiwan lawmakers is proof they made the right choice.

• Panama's parliament set up a Taiwan outreach group this year, and lawmakers involved say China has pressured and harassed them ever since — they call this a point of pride, since it shows they got under Beijing's skin.
• Panama switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 2017, but lawmakers say the relationship with China hasn't been the two-way benefit they expected.
• Honduras made the same switch to China in 2023 and says it also hasn't delivered on promises, leaving an unbalanced trade relationship; Honduras now wants to cut its economic reliance on China and repair ties with Taiwan.
• European countries at the meeting, including the UK, Sweden, and the Netherlands, raised concerns about peace in the waters around Taiwan, since most global shipping passes through there and Taiwan makes most of the world's advanced computer chips.
• Dutch officials described widening Chinese pressure tactics, including unofficial Chinese police outposts monitoring Chinese citizens abroad, a flood of cheap Chinese electric cars hurting European carmakers, and fears that Chinese-made robot vacuums could be used for spying.

Outlook: Expect more countries that previously switched allegiance to China to voice buyer's remorse, while Western governments keep organizing around pushback on Chinese influence and tech security.