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《羈旅雁鳴》(續)
貮章：采風巴拿馬
第16篇：一次凝聚僑心
的聚會
時間拉回到民國81年(1992年)9月間，迄今(2018年）已逾26年。對比今日中華民國在台灣的處境，真是不堪回首，感慨萬千。
1992年9月10日至12日，中美洲暨巴拿馬六國中華會館華僑總會聯合總會第27屆年會暨第21次懇親大會，在巴京中巴文化中心中正體館舉行，我與妻吳秀蓮全程支援行政工作，能為僑社服務，看到一次溫馨團结的聚會，辦得相當成功，往事記憶猶新，至為欣慰。
中美洲六國華僑聯合總會，是在民國55年(1966年)1月20日，在薩爾瓦多成立，成員包括瓜地馬拉、薩爾瓦多、宏都拉斯、尼加拉瓜、哥斯達黎加和巴拿馬各地的華僑總會。每年在各輪值國舉行年會，並舉辦懇親大會。期間因尼加拉瓜、薩爾瓦多和巴拿馬發生戰亂，懇親會停辦了六次。
中美洲六國華僑聯合總會暨懇親大會成立的宗旨，在加強六國華僑團結，促進僑社工商農業共同發展，推動文化教育事業，紮實華僑在僑居國的立業基礎，提升社會、政治地位，並且一致支持中華民國政府，完成統一大業。(1)
中美洲六國華僑聯合總會曁懇親大會，是全球五大洲成立區域性華僑聯盟的第一個組織，迄今已有53年。並未受到中美洲戰亂頻傳，以及中華民國友邦哥斯達黎加(2007年6月7日)、巴拿馬(2017年6月13日)、薩爾瓦多(2018年8月21日)相繼承認中華人民共和國，而中斷年會的召開。
陳水扁時代的僑務委員會委員長張富美(任期：2000年5月20日至2008年5月19日)一上台就提倡《僑胞三等論》，以台僑優先的論述，引起傳統僑社的強烈譴責。然而本地區傳統僑社，一本初衷，熱愛孫中山先生創立的中華民國。
今年(2018年)9月2日至9月4日，中美洲六國華僑聯合總會第53屆年會，在宏都拉斯京城德古斯加巴舉行，六國代表歡聚一堂，53年來從無間斷，凸顯出中美洲華僑團結愛國的精神，令人欽佩。
年會期間，中華民國駐宏都拉斯大使館發佈新聞(網路可查)：僑務委員會副委員長呂元榮特地來宏與各國僑界代表及旅宏台商座談，並參訪宏京中華民國廣場，以及位於宏京皮卡丘國家公園內之孔子公園，飽覽宏京風光。
看了以上報導，心生寒意，沮喪無奈。回顧一下26年前，在巴拿馬舉辦的那次第27屆年會暨第21次懇親大會。兩相比較，感慨萬千。(2)
1992年9月10日下午8時，六國華僑聯合總會27屆年會暨21次懇親大會，在中巴文化中心中正體育館舉行開幕典禮。可以容納四千人的體育館，主場及看台座無虛席。開幕典禮前，貴賓室內，中巴兩國政要雲集，包括巴拿馬兩位副總統亞里亞斯和福特、九位內閣部長、五位次長、三位國會議員，以及中華民國駐巴拿馬大使蘇秉照、僑務委員會委員長曾廣順、中國國民黨海外工作會主任鍾湖濱、僑選立委曾芙美、巴拿馬中華總會兩位永久名譽會長陳奉天及盧湛濤，以及中美洲各國華僑總會會長等近40人，彼此寒暄暢談。席間，福特副總統曾向曾委員長等人表示，中巴兩國關係敦睦，已有近百年歷史，華僑支持中華民國是一大原因，福特讚揚巴拿馬華僑的勤奮和對巴拿馬的貢獻。(3)
開幕典禮中，陳奉天會長以地主國華僑家長的身分致歡迎詞時表示：1980年代的十年，是台灣的黃金十年，前年(1990年)3月，中華民國的外滙儲備，突破美金720億元，躍居世界第一。國民所得除日本外，也是亞洲之首。我們中美洲六國華僑，與有榮焉，引以為傲。中美洲六國華僑，每年舉辦的僑團年會及懇親大會，一年比一年熱烈，祝各國鄕親在巴拿馬，有一個最美好最難忘的時光。
曾委員長也在會中代表李登輝總統宣讀賀詞，期勉僑社碩彥抒發智慧經驗，協助中華民國各項建設，共謀僑社福祉。
曾委員長並且報告了當天上午，與各國僑胞代表晉見恩達拉總統的情形。恩達拉總統相當高興，提起四個月前，率團前往台北，慶賀李登輝總統就職大典，留給他的深度美好印象。(4)
巴拿馬第一副總統亞里亞斯也應邀致詞，除了對各國華僑代表光臨巴拿馬表示熱烈歡迎外，並且強調巴拿馬與中華民國的邦誼永固，巴拿馬一直認為自由、民主、均富的中華民國與我們巴拿馬共和國建國的理念和奮鬥的目標完全一致。
當晚的活動與餐會同步舉行，包括巴拿馬傳統舞蹈、粵劇、民歌演唱、舞會等等。各國代表也紛紛展現了自己的演藝專長，全場僑胞熱情洋溢，留下深刻印象。
第二天9月11日，六國僑團代表，在中巴文化中心會議廳，舉行僑團會議，議題三十餘項逐題討論，國內長官均列席指導。
懇親會的各國鄉親，分兩梯隊展開遊覽活動，一隊前往巴拿馬古城及山湖公園，另一隊赴筒朗自由貿易區購買免稅精品。各國僑胞對主辦單位巴拿馬中華總會的周詳安排，工作人員的熱情服務，深表感謝難忘。(5)
六國僑團會議在密集式的討論下，決議將致力於提𢹂後進，扶植新秀，爭取才能品德優異人士參與僑社工作，建設僑居地公共事務，鼓勵競選公職，増進華僑權益。決議文除致函僑委會參考外，並在年會閉幕式中摘要宣讀。
年會於11日晚間七時，在中巴文化中心中正體育館舉行閉幕典禮，儀式中宣讀大會聯合聲明，誓言結合全僑力量，積極支持中華民國政府所訂定的《國家統一綱領》及僑團會議結論，上電李登輝總統及郝柏村院長致敬。並且頒獎表揚各國好人好事代表、模範母親與熱心服務青年代表。
閉幕儀式中駐巴拿馬大使蘇秉照、曾廣順委員長、鍾湖濱主任、僑選立委曾芙美，都相繼致詞。巴拿馬中華總會永久名譽會長陳奉天、會長何麟生，先後發言感謝各國鄉親的恭逢盛會，並向國內長官遠道前來與會，提振華僑士氣，表示由衷感謝。
國內長官對此次大會圓滿成功，展現六國華僑團結一致，支持中華民國政府，以三民主義統一中國的堅定立場，表示欽佩。
閉幕典禮歴時近兩小時結束，會後繼續一連串的娛樂活動，直至凌晨一時，各國鄉親才盡興地互道珍重，明年再會聲中，逐漸離去。(6)
年會期中，中巴文化中心中山學校的師生們，為了表示對各國僑胞及國內官員歡迎之意，除了動員全體師生整理校區環境外，早在一個月前，就著手準備一項華語文教學成果展覽，內容包括作文、書法、鋼筆字、國畫、壁報，以及美勞作品、中國結等等，真是琳琅滿目美不勝收。
其中兩幅壁報，製作得相當精緻，是師生們心血智慧的結晶。內容分別是介紹曾委員長及鍾主任歷年來，奔走海外各僑社與僑胞互動的文章和照片，文字簡潔、圖片生動。各國僑胞對中山學校華文教學的嚴謹、師資的優良、學生的好學都給予相當高的評價。
為了舒展身心，第三天行程，安排成兩組，一組遊覽運河，另一組參加一場命名為《湖濱杯高爾夫球賽》的活動，可任擇其一。
遊覽巴拿馬運河這一組人數最多，租用了六部遊覽車，運河管理委員會特別安排僑胞至水閘主控室，參觀船隻通過水閘的操作過程，隨後乘船遊覽運河風景最秀麗的加敦湖《蛇彎渠道》這一段，湖中有一連串小島，島上棲息許多珍禽異鳥及生長着國寳级的熱帶雨林植物，行經小島可以聽到淸晰悅耳的鳥鳴聲，鄕親們遊玩得相當暢心。
高爾夫球場佔地約兩萬坪，地點在巴拿馬市郊一處具有國際水準的湖水之濱，係由國民黨駐巴拿馬支部安排，參加比賽的除了鍾湖濱主任伉儷外，還有巴拿馬的漢光高球隊及哥斯達黎加華光高球隊成員，與賽者在盡情揮桿之餘，還飽覧了這裡的湖光山色。(7)
年會及懇親大會閉幕式後的中美洲六國華僑小姐選拔，安排在最後兩個小時，在午夜前結束，然而各國鄉親及在地僑胞，熱情洋溢，全場沸騰至凌晨。
鍾主任的夫人孫鐵映女士，因有深厚的學養，能說一口流利的西班牙語及英語，被大會邀請擔任五位評審之一。各國佳麗除了表演僑居國民族舞蹈外，並且穿著旗袍走過舞台，各顯才藝，接受機智問答。孫女士在評語中指出，中美洲各國華僑小姐美麗動人，在儀態、才藝、機智、語言表達能力方面，都很出色。評審會只能在些微差數中，選拔優勝。同時指出，美麗實在很難有一個確切標準，她說《自信就是美》，無疑給美下了一個最佳的詮釋。
1992年的六國僑團年會暨懇親大會，在主辦單位巴拿馬中華總會的精心策劃下，各國鄉親踴躍參與，相當盡興。大會以圓滿、美麗、溫馨、團結結束。
今年(2018年)這項凝聚僑心的六國僑社活動，依序輪值再度由巴拿馬主辦，無奈因巴拿馬共和國去年六月轉向承認中華人民共和國，僑社領導們在意識形態作祟下，無意續辦。尼加拉瓜雖與中華民國維持外交關係，也以政局動盪為由，未便接辦。最後依次輪到宏都拉斯，在臨危受命的形勢下，只辦年會，停辦懇親大會，在兩岸現今政治氛圍下，實屬難得。
照說，這個凝聚僑心，團結僑社，全球第一個成立的區域性華僑聯盟組織，不應政治因素而停止舉辦，反而應該將活動內容，辦得更加熱烈有聲有色。
由巴拿馬宣佈承認中華人民共和國(2017年6月13日)的次日，中巴文化中心中山學校大門橫匾上的中華民國國旗，立即摘下的舉措來看(巴拿馬政府迄今仍未禁止華人社團、學校，升懸中華民國國旗)。不竟讓我們產生太多的聯想，兩岸和平統一的願景，必將延遲。捫心自問，我們做錯了什麼。(8，本篇完)
第17篇：深情郁濃
每句話都令人感動
民國83年(1994年)9月1日，巴拿馬共和國總統巴利亞達雷斯Ernesto Balladares就職(任期：1994年9月1日至1999年9月1日）。中華民國第8任副總統李元簇(任期1990年5月20日至1996年5月19日)率團慶賀。
8月30日晚間，慶賀團抵達巴京前三個小時，旅居巴拿馬的僑胞600餘人，早已相聚在巴京龍鳳酒樓，以盛大的場面，設宴歡迎李副總統暨特使團成員，以表達心中最崇高的敬意。(1)
歡宴大廳在下午6時前佈置就緒，四百多面綢質中、巴串式國旗懸連各個角落，大廳正面以6公尺長、1．5公尺寛的橫幅，紅底白字書以《巴拿馬全僑歡迎中華民國李副總統元簇博士宴會》，兩旁各置巨幅中巴國旗各一面。兩邊牆壁配以《自由民主均富統一中國》及《勤勞互助和協團結僑社》的標語，再配上燈光效果，整個會場凸顯出喜氣洋洋。
晚間8時，大廳已座無虛席，中華總會永久名譽會長陳奉天、盧湛濤，會長何麟生及各僑團主席，依序排列在廳前恭迎。8時15分，李副總統在警察摩托車隊的護衛引導下，由大使蘇秉照及隨行團員30餘人陪同，抵達會場。
此時奏起恭迎軍樂和燃放鞭炮，花縣同鄉會的醒獅團，鑼鼓喧天，以舞獅相迎。當李副總統進入會場時，全體僑胞起立熱烈鼓掌，李副總統頻頻含笑答禮，同時也奏起了薄海騰歡、龍翔鳳舞等國樂，會場一片熱鬧祥和。(2)
宴會先由中華總會何麟生會長致歡迎詞，對李副總統率團來巴，慶賀巴國總統就職，宣慰旅巴僑胞，僕僕風麈，備極辛勞，表示由衷敬佩感謝之意，並且推崇李副總統從政以來，落實推動中華民國憲政改革的卓越成就。
緊接著李副總統向在場的中外來賓，發表相當感性的談話。
李副總統説，當一個人離開他的故鄉的時候，到了另外一個陌生的國家時，他最樂意也最高興見到的，就是自己的親人。他說：今天，我一下飛機，就看到我們這麼多的僑領，和中山學校這麼多的小朋友，手裡持著我們的國旗，內心感到非常非常地激動，也非常非常地高興。
李副總統接著說：在我小的時候，常常浮現在腦海中的是，不知道甚麼時候，才能有機會看一看貫穿兩洋的巴拿馬運河。他又說：早在3年前，也就是民國80年(1991年)，訪問過中美洲的哥斯達黎加、宏都拉斯和尼加拉瓜三個國家，那個時候就希望能就近到巴拿馬訪問，但是當時在這三個國家，耽擱的時間太久，國內的公務又急待處理，所以沒有實現自己的期望。但是，今天我到了巴拿馬，在我人生的旅程上，能夠實現小時候夢想的事，尤其感到愉快。(3）
李副總統說，距離現在大概有140多年，我們的祖先為了建設巴拿馬鐵路，遠渡重洋來到這裏，對巴拿馬就作了很大的貢獻，本世紀（20世紀）初華僑又參與了開闢運河的艱鉅工作。到了今天，旅居巴拿馬的僑胞們，對於巴拿馬的建設，更有重大的貢獻。我們的僑胞們，在巴拿馬的社會中，也爭取到很高的地位，像在座的，就有巴國的審計長鄭道華先生，相當於中華民國的審計部部長，也有新當選的國會議員楊柯麗雅女士。此外，在巴拿馬的社會中，有知名的大學教授、律師，還有很多的工商界領袖。
他認為，中巴兩國的友誼，能夠如此穏固，因素不只一個，其中最重要的一個就是旅居巴拿馬的華僑，對巴拿馬有諸多的貢獻。華僑在巴拿馬的社會裏，有很高的地位，為巴國人民所崇敬，所以中巴兩國的邦誼才能這麼鞏固。我代表我們的國家，來謝謝在巴拿馬的華僑。
李副總統抵達巴拿馬後，立即在機場，由交通部長劉兆玄與巴拿馬外交部長莫里諾，共同簽署了中巴兩國的航權協定。
李副總統在宴會中指出，有了這個航權協定之後，中巴兩國地理上的距離雖然沒有改變，但用時間的觀念來看，將來我們的飛機可以直接飛到巴拿馬，巴拿馬的飛機也可以飛到我們的國家，因此兩國的距離拉近了，雙方的關係也因此更加密切。我們不但在貿易上可以加強，同時在觀光方面也好，交流方面也好，在座的同胞要回到自己的國家，看望自己的家人親戚朋友也好，想必會來得更容易。我要謝謝我們外交部有關同仁的努力，也要謝謝巴拿馬政府的合作。
數月後，中華民國長榮航空開闢台北經洛杉磯直飛巴拿馬航線，華僑不必再繞道歐洲，經香港回到大陸故鄉探親。可以直接到台北轉香港進大陸，既省錢更省時，給僑胞帶來很大的便利。(4)
李副總統同時指出：僑胞對政府的支持，一向不遺餘力，因此我要特別重申，政府必將更加努力，積極照顧海外的僑胞，加強僑社的聯繫與服務，輔導經濟事業的發展，推動華僑的文教工作。希望海外的同胞，大家能夠心手相連，為我們中華民族的振興共同努力。
李副總統接著說，在巴拿馬僑社中，中巴文化中心對於中巴兩國文化交流，貢獻非常的大，我要藉著這個機會，聊表一點心意。
李副總統將一張美金10萬元的支票，面交中巴文化中心董事長陳奉天，作為中心發展基金。陳奉天立即以粵語宣佈，全場報以熱烈掌聲。
致詞最後，李副總統很幽默地又說了以下這段話：吃飯的時候，最怕人家講話，講得太多太長。但是今天我不但講得多，又講得長，這是因為我第一次來到巴拿馬，第一次看到諸位同胞，我心裡實在太高興了，所以講得又多又長。不過這個責任不能全由我一個人來負責，我們的侯淸山副司長，也佔了一半時間翻譯成西班牙語，現在由我們兩人共同負責。此時，又引起一片笑聲。
但是李副總統的話還沒有完，他說他差點忘了一件事情，就是他臨行前，李登輝總統交待他，一定要把懷念巴拿馬僑胞的情感，轉達給此間的僑胞。9年前，當時李登輝總統以副總統身分，訪問巴拿馬，僑胞給予熱情接待，使他感動，至今心存懷念，特別請他轉達感謝之意。最後，李副總統在恭祝大家身體健康事業發達，巴拿馬僑社團結合作聲中，結束了這次相當感性的演說。
餐會進行中，李副總統由蘇秉照大使及陳奉天諸僑領陪同下，逐桌向僑胞敬酒。對一位高齡93歲的鄭老太太及一位85歲行動不便的張老先先，均由兒孫攙扶，專程由內地前來參加盛會，更表達了由衷的感激之意。(5)
次日8月31日(星期三)上午八時，李副總統一行與各國慶賀團，前往巴拿馬總統府，與卸任總統恩達拉及候任總統巴利亞達雷斯會面。李副總統是距離巴拿馬最遠的國家領導人，兩位總統對李副總統率團專程來訪，表示由衷的感謝。
上午近十時，李副總統由蘇大使陪同，來到中巴文化中心，各僑團主席及中山學校師生代表百餘人，在中心門口迎接。李副總統親切地與僑領們及師生們握手致意。並與各僑團主席，在中山學校校門前合影留念。
上午十時，走向大操場，李副總統與全體師生，舉行升旗典禮。陳奉天董事長在左，升巴拿馬共和國國旗，並奏國歌，李副總統在右，升中華民國國旗，在全體師生及僑領們齊唱中華民國國歌聲中，國旗冉冉升起，迎風飄揚。
隨後在陳奉天、盧湛濤、何麟生諸僑領陪同下，走進二樓大禮堂，與僑團主席及教師代表，舉行座談。就中巴兩國文化交流及華語文教學交換意見。華文老師發言踴躍，李副總統頻頻點頭讚許。教師們爭相與李副總統合影拍照。會後巡視圖書館、中正體育館及中心各項設施，李副總統慰勉僑界先進，充分發揮中巴文化中心功能，貢獻巴國社會。
李副總統並在蔣公銅像右側植樹紀念，整個行程洋溢在深情郁濃之中。(6)
李元簇副總統於民國。85年(1996年)5月19日卸任後，遠離塵囂不問政治，隱居苗栗頭份鄉下長達20年，潛研佛學，生活清靜，兩袖清風，一直沒有聽到他的聲音，聽到的卻是他駕鶴西飛的消息。國內法學界、文教界給了他這一生一個最貼切的詮釋《無聲中見智慧，剛直中見志節》。
李副總統（1923．9．24．一2017．3．8．）德國波昂大學法學博士，歷任法官、政治大學校長、教育部長、法務部長、總統府秘書長。懷念這位一生奉獻台灣、熱愛台灣、熱愛僑胞的長輩，哲人其萎，謹致以最崇高的敬禮。(7，本篇完)
第18篇：一次動員造勢
的聚會
民國77年(1988年)1月13日，中華民國第七任總統蔣經國逝世於任內（任期為1984年5月20日至1990年5月19日)，副總統李登輝繼任為總統。
中華民國政府為回應在台灣民主化的呼聲與本土化等政治情勢，民國80年(1991年)，李登輝時任第八任總統（任期為1990年5月20日至1996年5月 19日)，首次修訂中華民國憲法，增加《中華民國憲法增修條文》，任內曾增修6次。
民國83年(1994年)7月，第3次增修時，確立總統、副總統由人民直接選舉。
民國85年(1996年)5月20日，李登輝、連戰，依據該增修條文，就任首次由人民直選出來的第九任總統副總統(任期四年，1996年5月20日至2000年5月19日)。(1)
中華民國首次在台澎金馬地區舉行的總統直選(1996年3月23日投票）競爭相當激烈，共計有四組人參選。分別為，國民黨籍的李登輝、連戰，民進黨籍的彭明敏、謝長廷，新黨籍的林洋港、郝柏村，獨立候選人的陳履安、王清峰。
在當年的政治氛圍下，海外各地紛紛成立李登輝後援會、李登輝之友會，成為支持李、連競選的最大助力。選後，又紛紛成立李登輝總統之友聯誼會。
民國85年（1996年)9月，中美洲六國華僑總會年會暨懇親大會在哥斯達黎加舉行，巴拿馬中華總會會長鍾震邦，在年會上當場對成立李登輝總統之友聯誼會之建議，表示異議。認為李、連已經順利當選就任，後援會及之友會任務已經圓滿達成，即可撤銷，不必再組成什麼什麼聯誼會，搞個人崇拜。鍾震邦的聲音，沒有被接受，各國李登輝總統之友聯誼會陸續成立。(2)
六國華僑總會哥斯達黎加年會後，巴拿馬僑社沒有成立聯誼會組織。仍保留《巴拿馬李登輝總統之友會》，繼續運作。
民國85年(1996年)發生台海危機(1995年7月至1996年3月），緣起李登輝於1995年訪問美國引爆。自1989年六四運動以後，美國不再拉攏中共對抗蘇聯，1990年初東歐巨變，蘇聯解體，美國轉為拉攏在台灣的中華民國，對抗中共。
1996年3月，中華民國在台澎金馬地區舉行總統直選，北京欲在巴拿馬設立辦事處，進而建立全面外交關係的策略，障礙獲得突破。同年10月16日，辦事處正式掛牌。從此，中華人民共和國在巴拿馬從事外交、經貿、僑務等統戰活動，有了著力點。
1997年1至3月，巴拿馬親北京僑領、僑團，媚共心態浮於檯面，積極配合辦事處運作。打撃親中華民國之僑領僑團為其一，7月1日香港回歸，舉辦系列慶祝活動為其二，協助辦事處發展與巴拿馬的關係為其三，破壞中華民國大使館與僑胞之間的感情為其四（製造大使館三等秘書劉魯宏事件，挑撥大使館與僑胞之間的深厚感情，造成僑務工作一度緊張的所謂《三月風暴》。）以及阻撓9月初，李總統出席巴拿馬運河環球會議，為其五。
在如此嚴峻的情勢下，由全球各地李登輝總統之友聯誼會和全球各地台商會的會員們，發起在巴拿馬運河環球會議期間(1997年9月5日至9月9日)，全球各地兩會會員，會師於巴拿馬，成立《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會》及《世界台商首屆年會》，矢志擁戴李登輝總統。(3)
民國86年（1997年)四月間，僑務委員會及國民黨海外工作會，分別行文大使館及國民黨中南美洲特派員辦公室：李登輝總統，出席九月巴拿馬運河環球會議期間，全球各地《之友會》及《台商會》會員代表會師巴拿馬，敬請支援主辦單位，推動各項活動，期望圓滿成功。
大使館及黨部就《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會》成立大會，及《世界台商年會》活動籌備事宜，交換意見，決議兩會活動分別舉行，並呈文僑委會及國民黨中央報備。世界台商年會由大使館僑務秘書鄧毅雄主導，支援巴拿馬台商會辦理(前任僑務秘書吳光定，已於1996年6月調回僑委會)。世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會成立大會，由國民黨海工會協助巴拿馬李登輝總統之友會，推動各項籌備工作。(4)
四月中旬，《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會成立大會籌備會》，由中國國民黨駐中南美洲特派員吳朝昱召集巴拿馬黨支部委員，及邀請巴拿馬李登輝總統之友會、中巴文化中心中山學校等僑領、華文教師近20人，研商籌備事宜。
四月下旬，作業全面啟動，首先走訪包括巴拿馬國家劇院在內的巴京各五星級酒店，擇一為開閉幕及會議地點，最終選擇新開幕營業不久的，濱巴拿馬灣巴博亞大道上的觀海洒店Hotel Miramar。
進駐旅館為西班牙大道上的巴拿馬酒店Hotel El Panama(1980年9月孫運璿院長訪問巴拿馬，下榻飯店)。
每日早餐均在巴拿馬酒店，午餐在附近數家中餐館，晩宴在觀海洒店、中巴文化中心中正體育館及國際酒樓。
依據籌備會各次決議，由黨部秘書陳昌智撰文寫成《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會成立大會活動須知》6000字24頁一夲，供會員參考。(5)
筆者在編寫《成立大會活動須知》過程中被告之，增列聯合總會顧問九名。分別為：1，時任國民黨秘書長的吳伯雄。2，考試院長許水德。3，李總統次女李安妮夫婿，大學教授賴國洲。4，外交部長章孝嚴。5，僑委會委員長祝基瀅。6，國民黨海外工作會主任王能章。7，中華民國工業總會理事長許勝發。8，統一企業董事長高清愿。9，大學教授黃三榮。
在任務分組方面：1，交通組長鍾浩良。2，活動組長劉秋林。3，接待組長吳秀蓮。4，總務組長莫培偉。5，餐飲組長張招珍。6，聯絡組長張郁貞。7，車輛調度鄭綠然。8，遊覽車隨車服務員五名：劉偉科、張少娟、吳偉贊、吳毅賢、侯玉輝。均諳西班牙語、國語、廣東話。
籌備會秘書長為黃國昌（國民黨美國西南黨部常委)，五位秘書分別為：1，吳朝昱。2，王竹猗(海工會)。3，方芬(美西南黨部)。4，江芳鋭(美西南黨部)。5，陳昌智。
整個活動期間，各工作人員，不畏辛勞，圓滿完成任務，深獲各國之友會會友深度讚許。但也遭到一些微辭，巴拿馬某僑領快語直言，延聘李登輝女婿賴國洲為聯合總會顧問，似有奉承拍馬之意。(6)
民國83年(1994年)9月，中華民國李元簇副總統率團慶賀巴拿馬總統巴雅達雷斯(或譯：巴利亞達雷斯Ernesto Balladares)就職，巴雅達雷斯總統邀請李登輝總統擇期訪問巴拿馬。
兩年後，聯合國第51屆大會決議，於1997年9月，在巴拿馬召開運河環球會議。二月間，巴拿馬政府同時邀請兩岸領導人出席，遭到北京嚴厲撻伐。由於巴雅達雷斯總統拒絕收回對李登輝總統的邀請，運河環球會議幾乎閙得停辦。
時任中華民國國家安全局長的殷宗文，以李總統特使身分，穿梭於台灣巴拿馬之間協調聯繫，加上美國從中斡旋。最終，聯合國採折衷辦法，於1997年8月21日宣佈：聯合國及所屬機構，不正式出席巴拿馬運河環球會議。因此有了1997年9月，李總統伉儷率領106人赴巴拿馬，展開元首外交出擊的《太平之旅》，此次會議僅有中華民國在中美洲數個邦交國元首出席，却付出了高達美金1億4千萬元的代價。
雖然運河環球會議命運多舛，但《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會成立大會》及《世界台商會議》，仍然按照原計劃籌備進行。畢竟，這是中華民國元首，首次造訪巴拿馬共和國。(7)
九月三日（星期三)籌備會最後一次滙報，由特派員吳朝昱及秘書長僑務委員黃國昌共同主持，各項工作已經準備就緒。
當日下午，接待組在巴拿馬酒店一樓大廳，完成服務台設置。
下午六時，為迎接首批會友到達，十人交通組已就國際機場各個位置。機門口手舉明顯標誌迎賓，協助快速通關，領取行李，搭乘接送專車送往旅館。
第一個抵達的是《港澳地區李登輝總統之友聯誼會》，從出機門，不到一個小時，就到達旅館。比起一般情況，至少節省50分鐘。
籌備會備有會友名冊，內有會員中英文姓名、所屬單位、職稱、會員識別證編號、旅店房間號碼、資料袋編號、備考各欄。設計一清二楚，對推展活動，具有指標性的功能。
抵達旅店之會友，先至服務台，核實身分後領取資料袋，袋內的會友識別證背面註明房間號碼，及活動期間乘車號碼。會員憑識別證，至旅店櫃台領取房間鑰匙。作業快速便捷，有賓至如歸的感覺。
每一房間內，由籌備處致贈花籃一個，海外工作會主任王能章贈送應時水果一籃。(8)
九月三日下午七時，第一個單位報到，至九月五日清晨五時，最後一位會友進住旅館，連續34個小時，服務台的工作沒有一刻中止。接待組長吳秀蓮全程坐鎮服務台，中山學校華文教師宋曼莉、林玉鳳，支援作業。服務台增設分機一座，秘書陳昌智除協助報到工作外，隨時通報酒店周邊狀況。
九月六日(星期六)上午六時，一部警車、八輛摩托車警騎、兩輛黑頭轎車及五輛遊覽車，已停妥旅館周邊道路。
吳秀蓮見警車、警騎，前桿未懸國旗，立即將備用之中巴兩國綢質小國旗(36cmx24cm)，贈送各車駕駛，並協助懸掛，囑託活動期間全程繫用。吳秀蓮被各警察先生尊稱為國旗太太（Senora Bandera)(9)
早餐後，各會友集合在酒店迴廊前，各車服務員手持指引標誌，引導上車。
與其同時，各僑團代表近200人，中巴文化中心中山學校師生1500餘人，台商會會員及眷屬逾1000人，中外記者、電台電視台人員超過100人，分別從各地向篤姑門國際機場集結。
之友會歡迎李登輝總統來訪的隊伍，由警車鳴笛前導，八輛重型摩托騎警護衛車隊行進。警車之後，海工會主任王能章伉儷及隨扈，坐於首輛座車，次輛為黨工人員，再次是五輛遊覽車。筆者在第一輛車最前方駕駛之右，手持對講機，與各車保持聯絡，隨時通報車隊行車狀況，居高臨下，看見車隊浩浩蕩蕩，一路通行無阻到達機場。熙往攘來的車輛及行人，給予奇異眼光，紛紛走避讓路。這是我生平第一次，因工作關係，沾上如此風光禮遇，終生難忘。(10)
在各車服務員的引導下，李登輝之友會的會友們，進入迎賓指定位置。上午八時三十分，李總統伉儷由駐巴拿馬大使袁健生陪同，從機場左側快速通道，步入寬約10公尺，長約500公尺的歡迎步道。
步道兩側，左為僑團僑胞代表，右為李登輝總統之友會各地會友。世界各地台商會及中山學校師生，各方兩側。迎賓隊伍每人手持中巴兩國國旗。
當李總統一行人，步入歡迎步道，中巴兩國國旗飛舞，《總統好，總統好》之聲，響徹雲霄。中外記者、電視台電台記者，一湧而上爭取鏡頭。兩會會友情緒激動，趨前爭相與李總統握手致意，中巴兩國安全人員，緊張萬分。
李總統從進入歡迎步道，到走至最後一人，登上座車，至少有30分鐘。
李總統在中山學校師生行列中，頻頻垂詢校長Jesus Oscar及同學們生活學習情形，心情相當愉快，歡喜溢於眉宇。
次日，巴拿馬第一大報《La Prensa》譽稱，有如此強大的動員造勢能力，非台灣莫屬。(11）
對於李登輝總統的到訪，巴拿馬政府受到聯合國以中共為首的強大壓力，李登輝到達時，沒有軍禮歡迎，沒有21響禮砲，巴拿馬總統也沒有到機場迎接，開導的摩托車，竟是長榮集團稍早贈送的三陽機車。
巴拿馬總統府發給外國記者登輝行程中，竟然略去參加運河會議的部份，弄得外籍記者満頭霧水，不知李先生此行來幹什麼。使得大使館新聞參事處，相當尷尬。
相對地，中華民國政府及執政黨，却動員了全球各地李登輝總統之友及台商會會友，結合僑社僑校造勢歡迎的一頭熱現象。
巴拿馬僑領，陳奉天先生的胞弟中山同鄉會主席陳昆慶，説得相當中肯：李登輝總統的來訪，如此動員歡迎，固然顯示出一股團结的力量，但對巴拿馬政府及民間來說，未必能造成其擴散效應以深遠影響。(12)
迎接了李總統一行人之後，兩會會友分赴巴拿馬城近郊遊覽。之友會在警騎摩托車隊的開導下，先參觀古城遺址，再去法國廣場。
1502年哥倫布經由多明尼加島向西南行，登陸巴拿馬。1513年9月25日，西班牙探險家巴波亞(Balboa1475-1517)帶領一隊人，穿越巴拿馬地峽，由大西洋岸到達太平洋岸。發現這裡面對一個風平浪靜的海灣，有山有河，有花有魚有蝴蝶，有如銀河墜落的一顆珍珠。
巴波亞回到西班牙，大肆宣傳巴拿馬有如世外桃園。隨後大批西班牙移民，來到這裡，當年有《太平洋珍珠》之美譽。西班牙人於1519年在此建巴拿馬城，明年(2019年)，將是建城500週年，巴拿馬政府及民間，將以嘉年華形式歡渡。(13）
1519年建立的巴拿馬城，被稱為古城(Panama Viejo），1650年代人口已增加到10萬人。
1671年海盜亨利摩根(Henry Morgan)圍攻這座城市，掠奪行經地峽運往西班牙王室的黃金。古城被海盜洗劫後燒毀，現存主教堂的一些大型磚石建築，已成為觀光熱門景點。
當年海盜曾襲擊古城鄰近的一座黃金祭壇大教堂(Iglesias San Jose) ，人們為了要保存堂內的黃金祭壇，將其漆成黑色，而保存了下來。
兩年後(1673年)，西班牙人在巴拿馬灣西北方，距離古城逾10公里處築一新城，現在被稱為舊城(Casio Viejo)，包括Santa Ana ，San Felipe，Chorrillo三區，今日的總統府、主教大堂、郵政總局及中國城，都在舊城區內。因此現在的巴拿馬城，有古城(遺址)、舊城、新城、開發區之分。（14)
李登輝總統之友會的各地會友們，遊覽了巴拿馬古城遺址後，接著前往另一個景點法國廣場(Plaza De Francia)。法國廣場位於Casco Viejo半島東南方，屬舊城San Felipe區。緣起紀念法國工程師李西普(Ferdinand De Lesseps1805-1894)而命名。
1880年，李西普延續開鑿蘇伊士運河的成功經驗，到了巴拿馬，開鑿巴拿馬運河，長達七年之久。卻因巴拿馬地峽的複雜地形及黃熱病肆虐，工程失敗，宣告破産。後由美國接手挖掘，於1914年完成。
Casco Viejo半島面積僅0．3平方公里，半島內有法國駐巴拿馬大使館、廣場紀念館、運河紀念碑及法國廣場。
運河紀念碑石階而上，面對運河太平洋岸入口，碑長約20公尺，形似華盛頓紀念碑。碑頂有一隻銅鑄公鷄，象徵法國大革命的標誌，鷄頭面向法國。碑座平台下有Las Bovedas花園一座，步道一旁排列着歷史上，對開鑿巴拿馬運河有特殊功勲者的半身銅像紀念碑，並有碑文記述事蹟。
進入半島前的住商合一區，遊覽車停靠路旁，會員們徒步走到島內各景點，可以近距離接觸一幢幢西班牙式磚造小樓，以及享受購物樂趣。(15)
半島上的兩條街，有多家知名的禮品店及餐館，除了可以選購多樣的晶品外，還可以飽啖法式、義式、及地道的巴拿馬美食。
之友會的會員們，中午安排在粵菜館龍鳳樓用餐。下午二時，前往中巴友誼公園，參加落成啟用典禮。
中巴友誼公園佔地三萬平方公尺，緊鄰中巴文化中心後山，有一陸橋跨越一條公路，連接兩地。
經過僑領們的努力奔走，在原有的基礎上，歷時兩年整建，闢為具有中華文化色彩的公園，並命名為中巴友誼公園，表徴中華民國與巴拿馬共和國，兩國人民間的深厚友誼。1997年9月6日，由李登輝總統剪綵啟用。
當天觀禮人數，除了上午原班動員接機人員外，自動前往的僑胞及附近居民，至少也有三千多人。
開幕典禮由巴拿馬中華總會永久名譽會長、中巴文化中心創辦人陳奉天主持，距離他謝世12月23日，僅108天。（16)
結束了中巴友誼公園落成活動後，返回旅館休息，並召開第二次預備會議。與其同時，世界台商年會開幕典禮，在Hotel Marriott舉行，之友會會員可自由參加。
下午四時，全體會員登車赴Bella Vista區觀海酒店Hotel Miramar，出席《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會》的開幕典禮及聆聽李總統演講。
開幕典禮在觀海酒店可以容納千人的會議大廳舉行，當時營業不久，與有榮焉，首次接納有總統級的大規模活動。
由於大廳的舞台設計，不符合開幕典禮需求，必須加寬尺寸。舞台後方的裝飾過於通俗，必須另行設計，凸顯會議精神。這兩項工程，都趕在開幕典禮前一天完成，所費自然不貲。(17)
誇張的是，舞台背景5公尺高、12公尺寬的精神標誌，由原先的木板設計，更改為藍色綢質布縵。用12個鐵架，以螺絲連結組合成一整塊，即美觀又氣派。
平平整整的布縵上，用顏真卿楷書《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會成立大會開幕典禮》字樣呈現。
12公尺的舞台正面，用最名貴的巴拿馬蝴蝶蘭盆栽佈置。僑領們讚嘆：國民黨真有錢。語氣令人玩味。(18)
李登輝總統在開典禮中指出：民國73年（1984年)，他輔佐經國先生出任中華民國第七任副總統，民國77年1月13日，經國先生辭世，他繼任總統。兩年後的民國79年，被國民大會選為第八任總統。民國85年(1996年)更依據中華民國憲法增修條文，全民直選為第九任總統，迄今(1997年9月)，其間擔任副總統4年、總統10年。我一直兢兢業業、克盡職守，為國為民服務。
去年海內海外各地，紛紛成立李登輝之友會，今年又在巴拿馬成立世界聯合總會，我要向各位會友，誠摰地表達感謝之意，隨時隨地給我建言，以不負經國先生及全民所托。(19)
結束了之友會聯合總會成立大會開幕典禮之後，會友們登車前往中巴文化中心中正體育館，參加晚間七時，由巴拿馬中華總會主辦的全僑歡迎李總統伉儷宴會。
這是繼民國74年(1985年)李登輝以副總統身分，代表經國先生訪問巴拿馬，在巴京國際會議中心，全僑舉辦兩千人的盛大歡宴之後，又一次以超越兩千人的動員能量，舉辦全僑歡宴。
巴拿馬僑界歡迎中華民國政府首長來訪，有史以來最大一次的歡宴，是民國69年(1980年)9月3日，行政院長孫運璿的巴拿馬國是訪問。
當時的大使館僑務秘書吳光定(任期僑委會史上最長，1972年6月至1996年6月，長達24年)出面請商中華總會，試探舉辦全僑聯合歡宴的可能性。中華總會隨即召開僑團主席籌備歡迎事宜。僑胞踴躍參與，以800人的盛大場面，歡迎孫院長一行。
然而這一次的動員宴會，雖然仍有人氣，但缺少了熱情。尤以左傾僑團給予掣肘，甚至於對精神標語《三民主義統一中國》都有意見。(20)
九月七日(星期日）上午，之友會聯合總會大會，在觀海酒店舉行了兩次會議，與李總統隨行人員交換意見。午後，參觀運河水閘及阿瑪鐸長堤(Calzada De Amador)。
阿瑪鐸長堤面積2．2平方公里(220萬平方公尺)，位於巴拿馬城和橫跨巴拿馬運河入口處的美洲大橋間，一水之隔與東北方的Casco Viejo半島平行。運河開鑿時，將挖掘出來的16億公噸泥沙，填結巴拿馬灣近海四個小島而成。
長堤之上，曾是美國軍事基地，有許多美軍宿舍美式建築，風光明媚，景色宜人，是巴拿馬著名觀光景點。
2017年6月，中華人民共和國與巴拿馬共和國建交。巴拿馬政府同意提供四公頃土地(約合9．88英畝，或4．12台灣甲)，作為大使館建館用地，但受到美國政府強烈施壓而受阻。(21)
遊覽了運河水閘及阿瑪鐸長堤後，返回旅館(巴拿馬酒店)休息，並召開主席團會議。
晚間七時，赴觀海酒店，原開幕典禮會場，出席由國民黨主辦的聯合總會歡宴。宴會以西式套餐招待，濃湯、沙拉、甜品、魚子醬、牛柳、海鮮、紅酒，一應俱全，闊氣盛極一時。
在場的一位僑團郭姓副主席回憶，他抗戰勝利那年，移居巴拿馬，半個世紀以來，參加過無數次僑宴，包括雙十國慶、國內首長來訪、海軍敦睦艦隊來訪等等，餐點盛筵以這次最為闊綽。
近年來拜科技之賜，每日用網路與老友交談，從李登輝的黑金復辟、戒急用忍、掏空黨產、釣魚台是日本領土，到政黨輪替，陳水扁的貪腐、蔡英文的跋扈，再到國民黨的落魄，韓國瑜只能自力救助，以一瓶礦泉水一碗魯肉飯，為國民黨出征，將高雄綠地變藍天。20年河東，20年河西，李登輝之友會聯合總會，早已棄於歴史的灰燼。(22)
九月八日(星期一)上午，會員自由活動，部份人前往箇朗自由貿易區探購精品，另一部份人遊覽市景，同一時間在中國城有一項牌樓揭牌活動。
儀式由僑務委員會委員長祝基瀅及僑領陣奉天共同主持。巴國內政部長、華裔政府首長、國會議員及各僑團主席、僑胞，五百餘人觀禮。李登輝總統題《敦睦邦誼》四字，於牌樓中央上方。
午後二時，全體會員經美洲大橋赴佐里拉（Chorrera)風景區遊覧，享受陽光、沙灘、漁港、美食，及附近的蘭花培植中心。
晚間在西班牙大道的華資國際酒樓，舉行惜別晚宴。遊藝節目由籌備處各工作組人員及各地區之友會會員，輪番表演歌唱、舞蹈、小提琴演奏、口技、歌仔戲等等，在全體齊唱《明天會更好》，《中華民國頌》聲中結束。(23)
九月九日（星期二)上午九時前後，之友會及台商會的會友們，分別到達箇朗大衛堡加工出口區，參加由中華民國經貿單位力促，並補助工商團體組成的《工總中美洲投資考察團》，在此加工出口區，浥注資金開啓設廠生產的開幕儀式。
儀式由行政院經建會主任委員江丙坤及巴國工商部長共同主持。
此項投資是配合李總統戒急用忍政策，在拉丁美洲另闢市場的試點。結果雷聲大雨點小，三家投資廠商血本無歸。
儀式後，回程順道遊覽箇朗市區及近郊景觀。在警察摩托車隊的開導下，按時到達巴拿馬國際機場，恭送李總統伉儷回國。未料離境行程提前一個小時，之友會的會員們，只能失望的目送專機離去。事後怪罪大使館未能及時通告，也無濟於事。
對於李登輝總統的這次《太平之旅》，旅美政治評論家花俊雄，在1997年12月號《海峽評論》84期雜誌上論述，台北啓動以戰止戰的外交策略，逼得北京只好用鬥爭到底來迎戰了。
文章指出，9月7日召開為期三天的巴拿馬運河國際會議，是為1999年底，美國將巴拿馬運河經營權交還給巴拿馬而舉行的前哨會議。
巴拿馬冀望通過這次會議，凝聚各國共識，獲致21世紀經營巴拿馬運河新方案。原估至少有20國元首參加，卻由於巴拿馬邀請了票房毒藥李登輝參加，而落到只有中華民國邦交國，宏都拉斯及尼加拉瓜兩國總統參加，此兩國目前(2018年)與中華民國，仍有外交關係。
文章又指出，台北當局意識到，如果李登輝能出席會議，哪怕是開幕式中，在電視上與世界領袖，共同亮相三分鐘也值得。有如此想法，真是匪夷所思。
這次巴拿馬動員造勢，已事隔21年，金援外交卻增加了一頁。值得還是不值得，國人要引以為戒。(24，本篇完)
第19篇：北京耕耘巴拿馬
1968年，巴拿馬國家警備軍兩名低階軍官，後來都成了國家領導人的杜里荷及諾瑞嘉，在相互支援下，發動軍事政變，取得政權。在權力分配上，杜里荷軍事資歷，高於諾瑞嘉，杜里荷取得領導地位。次年，杜就有中國大陸之行。
民國60年(1971年)10月25日，中共政權取代中華民國，成為聯合國會員國及五大常任理事國之一。
次日，蔣中正總統發表《告全國同胞書》，以振奮全國人心。隨後，中華民國外交處境日益艱難，國際地位逐漸萎縮。
民國64年(1975年）1月，聯合國安全理事會各成員國，集會巴拿馬，商討各國與巴拿馬之間有關運河通行事務。中共駐聯合國大使黃華，率領一個26人代表團，夾著盛極一時的氣焰，到達巴拿馬與會。(1)
當時中華民國駐巴拿馬大使是黃仁霖(1901-1983)，江西安義人。1926年美國哥倫比亞大學碩士，中英文造詣深厚。1934年國民政府創建《勵志社》，擔任總幹事，係一後勤供應機構，抗戰時期接待外國赴華軍政要員。深得蔣中正及宋美齡的信任，前後擔任蔣、宋特勤總管40年。
黃仁霖，1943年隨蔣中正出席開羅會議，政府遷台後，於1954年出任聯勤總司令，官拜中將，非黃埔軍系。1964年11月出使巴拿馬，1975年2月卸任。
黃華此行啣命赴巴，進行搶灘攻勢，趁此難逢機會，欲一舉摘下巴拿馬，再影響左右鄰國，產生骨牌效應，與中美洲各國全面建交。
黃仁霖大使在亳無預知的情況下，被巴拿馬外交部告之，運河會議期間應離京迴避，顯然屈服於中共的壓力，黃大使被迫於通知當日，暫避於僑領陳奉天，位於Cocle省El Valle的別墅內。這在外交禮儀上，是非常罕見的事。(2)
一輛60年代末期，車齡近十年的美國凱迪拉克大使座車，由軍職借調，海軍陸戰隊上士郜慶福駕駛，在巴京前往El Valle的路上。黃大使夫婦不發一語，一直望著車窗外，流逝的風景。黃大使應該是心有所思，如何面對未來可能發生的任何狀況。
黃大使是一位非常穩重踏實，果斷處事的人，有其將軍大使的氣度。對於巴拿馬外交部的作為，也提出了嚴正抗議。
晚間，郜慶福展現了一手好廚藝，做了幾道可口小菜，大使夫婦心情平靜，享受了一次另一類的晚餐。餐後，大使夫婦散步於山谷別墅四周。回到室內，黃大使伏案急書，應該與公務有關。
杜里荷將軍在答覆黃華是否與中共建交的前夕，事前徵詢了陳奉天的意見。陳奉天斬釘截鐵地說：在巴拿馬的華僑，永遠支持中華民國。
杜里荷讚揚陳奉天的堅貞志節，在陳奉天的影響下，挽救了一場瀕臨斷交的危機。黃華此行，並非無功而返，爭取到新華社在巴拿馬設立分社，成為往後中華人民共和國和巴拿馬共和國的官方對口單位。
次月，黃大使以健康理由請辭獲准，1981年前往紐約，與其律師長子團聚，1983年病逝於紐約。(3)
1960年代至70年代，毛澤東思想(Maoist)或稱毛主義，在拉丁美洲大行其道，許多民眾與組織，認為毛澤東的政策和理念，符合拉美國家所需，可以解決勞工大衆的窮困問題，自認是毛澤東一生理論和實踐的追隨者。
對中共而言，拉丁美洲不但是收集和美國有關的情報地方，而且是輸出毛澤東思想的理想所在。
1971年10月25日，中華人民共和國取代中華民國，在聯合國的席位後，積極耕耘拉丁美洲。巴拿馬位居拉美交通樞紐，又有運河貫通兩洋，是中共極力爭取的重中之重。
筆者於1979年10月底到達巴拿馬。幾乎每隔一段時間，就有工農大衆、勞工團體在國會廣場前示威喧擾，爭取與中華人民共和國建交。
其實，當年有不少西方學者專家披露，毛澤東思想與孫中山思想，有許多雷同之處。中共尊稱中華民國國父孫中山先生為革命的先行者，那麼追隨者自然是中國共産黨了。中華民國在台灣的學者專家們，顯然對這一點很少著墨。（4)
自新華社巴拿馬分社成立後，中國大陸頻頻派出民間團體，到巴拿馬進行友誼訪問。包括體育、民俗、藝文、學術、商展等等。
印象深刻的是，河北吳橋雜技團的公演，姿態的優美，演技的出神入化，讓僑胞及巴國人民，驚讚不已。
另外，獲得1980年全國甲級聯賽冠軍，以《快、準、狠》著稱的湖北男子籃球隊，與曾獲泛美運動會男子籃球冠軍的，巴拿馬國防軍籃球隊，進行友誼賽。雙方精湛的球技，戰況的激烈，讓觀眾看得直呼過癮。
1982年7月間，一支來自大陸沿海諸省市組成的商展團，在巴京國際會議中心展出工商産品。居然邀請到巴國工商部長剪綵，更誇張的是，場外升起五星紅旗，場內奏中華人民共和國國歌。
巴拿馬與紐約、倫敦、東京一般，具備國際金融中心地位。1980年代，外國銀行在巴拿馬，已經超過百間。上海滙豐銀行，1972年就進入巴拿馬。接續，1974年8月1日，中國國際商業銀行，在巴京設立分行，為中華民國在拉丁美洲境內的第一家銀行，為漸增的華人社區，提供了優質的金融服務。中國大陸也不遺餘力，1987年中國銀行(Bank of China)，在巴京設立分理處，1994年升格為分行。
20多年來，中國大陸在巴拿馬的金融機構，範圍涵蓋銀行、股票市場、保險及再保險公司、金融及租賃公司。（5)
民國70年(1981年)6月，巴拿馬執政黨民主革命黨，媚共色彩濃厚。中共副外長周南，兼程到達巴拿馬，洽談建交之可能。由於中華民國大使館及忠貞僑領因應得當，周南無功而返。隨後，中共對巴拿馬在建交策略運用上，改變方式。逐步採取經貿、文化、體育交流與巴拿馬頻繁接觸。
1986年初，巴拿馬大開門戶，大陸新僑洶湧而至，中共兼採國會外交。當時，最具影響力的華裔國會議員楊荷西，在傾共僑領斡旋下，此年8月，率領一支八人國會議員訪問團，訪問北京。同年9月，中華人民共和國人民代表大會六人訪問團，抵達巴拿馬報聘。1987年7月，巴拿馬國會再度組成十一人訪問團，前往北京，積極為中華人民共和國在巴拿馬設立據點舖路。
1996年2月，巴拿馬外交部同意中共委派先遣人員到達巴拿馬，預作成立辦事處之籌備工作。3月5日，中共外交部參贊居一杰，連同外經貿部兩名官員張善利、林力揚聯袂抵巴，隨即展開拜會工作，與巴國外交部進行開館協商。（6)
1996年9月23日巴拿馬外長阿里亞斯，在紐約聯合國總部與中共外長錢其琛會面，談話內容涉及中共駐巴拿馬貿易辦事處掛牌運作之事。至此，中共在巴拿馬成立代表機構已成定局。
隨後傾共僑團，頻頻作出一連串媚共舉措，先是組成10月1日中華人民共和國國慶籌備會，後有9月30日歡迎中共代表居一杰等人的餐會。兩家中文報紙《拉美快報》及《海外時報》，均作了詳細報導。中國國民黨輔導經營，有著近70年歷史，為僑喉舌的《共和報》，卻因財務拮据，虧損累累，於5月1日宣佈停刊。
1996年10月16日晩，中華人民共和國駐巴拿馬貿易發展辦事處正式掛牌運作。包括中華總會會長鍾震邦在內的各傾共僑團負責人，幾乎一面倒的出席了慶祝酒會。
該日，正值中華民國外交部次長程建人訪問巴拿馬，赴機場接機者僅有大使館官員及國民黨支部各委員。次日，程次長在下榻的凱撒飯店，招待各僑團主席午餐。出奇的是，出席中共辦事處開幕酒會的各媚共主席，全數到齊。忠貞於中華民國的僑領們見狀，真是五味雜陳。(7)
1989年12月20日，美國發動代號為《正義之師作戰》的巴拿馬戰爭，扶持恩達拉聯合政府上台，中華民國率先承認新政。恩達拉總統對中華民國一向友好，任內曾兩度訪問台北，外交採溫和路線，然而國內經濟不振，始終困擾恩達拉政府，造成諸多民怨。在野的民主革命黨趁機發動文宣攻勢，在民眾求新求變的心理下，1994年5月8日大選，巴雅達雷斯取得政權，民主革命黨再度執政。
1994年7月，巴雅達雷斯以總統當選人身分走訪北京，獲得中共總理李鵬及對外經貿部部長李嵐淸等人的接見。
1994年9月1日，巴雅達雷斯宣誓就任總統，中華民國李元簇副總統代表李登輝總統率團赴巴慶賀。巴雅達雷斯總統當日接見李副總統，兩人交談至為愉快近一小時，巴氏強調巴拿馬與中華民國的深厚友誼，將在既有良好的基礎上繼續發展。巴雅達雷斯左右逢源的心態，至為明顯。
1994年5月，巴拿馬大選後，僑社媚共僑團，心態浮現。中華總會第十三屆理監事改選，傾共僑團花縣同鄉會，運作成功，一舉攻下總會三分之一常務理監事席位，在競爭激烈的情況下，鍾震邦當選中華總會會長。(8)
清宣統元年(1909年)12月6日，清廷成立駐巴拿馬共和國總領事館。1912年2月12日，中華民國延續清廷與巴拿馬共和國的外交關係，至2017年6月，因巴拿馬轉向中華人民共和國，而中止。兩國友誼敦睦，達108年。
巴拿馬與中共建交，過程曲折，時間長達42年，《中國因素》是其主因。
翻閱中華民國與巴拿馬共和國的外交歴史，自1971年10月，中華民國退出聯合國前，一直很平順。之後，中華人民共和國的誘因，使得局面質變。
中華民國退出聯合國後，與巴拿馬共和國的雙邊合作協定，至斷交為止多達24項，涵蓋文化、貿易、農業技術、漁業技術、國際快遞、設置加出口區、投資待遇及保護、空中運輸、觀光、新聞等等。中華民國投資及援助巴拿馬共和國的金額，至少有美金210億之多。然而，最終乃然抵不過因《中國誘因》，巴拿馬與中華民國斷交。(9)
2017年7月12日，中華民國與巴拿馬斷交後一個月，巴拿馬外交部公告指出，與中華民國之間所簽訂的一切條約、協定、諒解備忘錄等文書，自巴拿馬承認中華人民共和國那天開始，失去法律効力。
截至2017年年底，中華民國的航運公司有68艘船隻，在巴拿馬註冊，為巴拿馬第五大權宜船來源國，其中45艘貨櫃輪為長榮海運所有。
長榮海運於民國86年(1997年）投資10億美元，完成了箇朗港專用碼頭。民國104年(2015年)12月，長榮第四號深水貨櫃碼頭竣工啟用。2018年7月，並不因巴拿馬與中華人民共和國建交，而中斷長榮海運專用碼頭第三期工程的開工。
相對的，中國大陸的和記黃埔港務公司，於1999年美國自巴拿馬運河撤離前，競標贏得巴拿馬運河兩端港口的管理權。當時美國的輿論聲稱，此舉必將危及美國的安全。(10）
2018年11月30日，二十國G20高峯會在阿根廷首都布宜諾斯艾利斯舉行，會後於12月2日，中華人民共和國習近平主席訪問巴拿馬，巴國總統巴雷拉聲稱是一次《前所未有的訪問》，簽署了20項商業、技術和基礎設施領域的合作協議，投資金額150億美元，包括最近三年來，耗資9億美元收購巴拿馬大西洋岸最大港口，運河入口處的瑪格麗特港，以及標得擴建中的巴京捷運系統。
簽署中的《希望之城》安居項目還包括國際會議中心及跨運河大橋的擴建。
巴拿馬公共工程部2018年7月宣佈，中華人民共和國與巴拿馬共和國建交後，中國港灣聯營體標得巴拿馬運河四橋擴建及興建工程，這將是未來幾年巴拿馬乃至中美洲最受關注的重點工程。
巴拿馬運河四大橋：其一，世紀大橋(擴闊)，連接運河西岸阿拉罕和東岸塞洛帕達康。其二，美洲大橋(擴闊)，是巴拿馬的一座公路橋，橫跨太平洋的巴拿馬運河入口處，大橋為桁架拱橋設計，全長1654米，大橋最高點距離海平面117米。其三，通河三橋(正在施工中），總長約1萬2千米，是巴拿馬運河上大西洋側的第一座大橋，世界上最大跨徑混凝土斜拉橋之一。其四，運河四橋(將建)，是一座公路鐵路兩用斜拉橋，長510米，寛51米，高75米，與美洲大橋擴建後的8條車道，形成一條〈北部走廊〉。(11）
國際貨幣基金組織公佈的2017年各國人均GDP，中華民國臺灣地區為24292美元，排名33。巴拿馬15089美元，排名53。都超過中國大陸的8643美元，排名72。對此國際媒體無不感慨，認為中國大陸對巴拿馬如此慷慨大撒錢的主要原因，應是巴拿馬的地緣政治佔了優勢。
路透社及美國之音披露：對中華人民共和國而言，建交後的巴拿馬，將成為其在拉丁美洲國家中，重要的外交和經濟支點，甚至追趕美國在此一地區的影響力至少能夠成為中美兩國關係中的一個《潛在的談判籌碼》。
今年10月，美國國務卿彭佩奧訪問巴拿馬時，就警告巴拿馬總統巴雷拉，和中國做生意要當心，因中國國企正在從事《掠奪性的經濟活動》。
該媒體進一步指出，中美兩大國在巴拿馬的這場爭持，將使中美洲成為自冷戰以來，超級大國之間影響力的代理戰場。其次，巴拿馬是近年來與台灣斷交與中國大陸建交的國家之一，其根本邏輯便是中國挾其巨額金援與國際影響力對巴拿馬的利誘。北京為延續對台灣的斷交潮，必將持續對這些新建交國挹注重金，方能進一步箝制台灣的國際空間。
台灣團結聯盟指出，巴拿馬與中華民國斷交前一個月，仍然支付了巴拿馬，多項合作計劃美金290萬元。這筆錢的支付，實在太不值得，給了我們一些想像空間。(12)
歐美輿論所指，巴拿馬將成為中華人民共和國在拉丁美洲國家《重要的外交和經濟支點》，以及美國國務卿彭佩奧所說的，中國國企正在巴拿馬從事《掠奪性的經濟活動》的説法，在巴拿馬的華人及華僑，有著不同的看法。
一位90年代末期，到達巴拿馬的王姓大陸新僑表示，崛起的中國，大手筆投資巴拿馬建設，使一帶一路在巴拿馬有了拉美海上支點，此舉必將提升華僑、華人在巴拿馬的社會地位。
一位在巴拿馬土生土長的陳姓華人，卻有另一種看法，他舉斯里蘭卡、馬來西亞的例子，認為巴拿馬未必受惠，反受其害。
另一位資深台商表示，紐約時報及華盛頓郵報均有報導稱，美國政界及商界已有聲音，中美貿易大戰之後，美國對中國已由競爭對手變為敵人，中國的勢力範圍已進入美國後院，未來幾年美國必將在南海、台海掀起風浪，以求全球戰略平衡，南海、台海紛爭動亂跟隨而來。(13，本篇完)
简介中原为英文的部分由 AI（Claude）于 2026 年 11 月译成中文，尚未经作者审阅。作者的中文原文保留繁体字。
三册原 PDF 共有 81 个字因字体缺字而无法显示，本页已根据上下文补上，可能有出入。
本文保留原文的繁体字。
《羈旅雁鳴》(續)
貮章：采風巴拿馬
第16篇：一次凝聚僑心
的聚會
時間拉回到民國81年(1992年)9月間，迄今(2018年）已逾26年。對比今日中華民國在台灣的處境，真是不堪回首，感慨萬千。
1992年9月10日至12日，中美洲暨巴拿馬六國中華會館華僑總會聯合總會第27屆年會暨第21次懇親大會，在巴京中巴文化中心中正體館舉行，我與妻吳秀蓮全程支援行政工作，能為僑社服務，看到一次溫馨團结的聚會，辦得相當成功，往事記憶猶新，至為欣慰。
中美洲六國華僑聯合總會，是在民國55年(1966年)1月20日，在薩爾瓦多成立，成員包括瓜地馬拉、薩爾瓦多、宏都拉斯、尼加拉瓜、哥斯達黎加和巴拿馬各地的華僑總會。每年在各輪值國舉行年會，並舉辦懇親大會。期間因尼加拉瓜、薩爾瓦多和巴拿馬發生戰亂，懇親會停辦了六次。
中美洲六國華僑聯合總會暨懇親大會成立的宗旨，在加強六國華僑團結，促進僑社工商農業共同發展，推動文化教育事業，紮實華僑在僑居國的立業基礎，提升社會、政治地位，並且一致支持中華民國政府，完成統一大業。(1)
中美洲六國華僑聯合總會曁懇親大會，是全球五大洲成立區域性華僑聯盟的第一個組織，迄今已有53年。並未受到中美洲戰亂頻傳，以及中華民國友邦哥斯達黎加(2007年6月7日)、巴拿馬(2017年6月13日)、薩爾瓦多(2018年8月21日)相繼承認中華人民共和國，而中斷年會的召開。
陳水扁時代的僑務委員會委員長張富美(任期：2000年5月20日至2008年5月19日)一上台就提倡《僑胞三等論》，以台僑優先的論述，引起傳統僑社的強烈譴責。然而本地區傳統僑社，一本初衷，熱愛孫中山先生創立的中華民國。
今年(2018年)9月2日至9月4日，中美洲六國華僑聯合總會第53屆年會，在宏都拉斯京城德古斯加巴舉行，六國代表歡聚一堂，53年來從無間斷，凸顯出中美洲華僑團結愛國的精神，令人欽佩。
年會期間，中華民國駐宏都拉斯大使館發佈新聞(網路可查)：僑務委員會副委員長呂元榮特地來宏與各國僑界代表及旅宏台商座談，並參訪宏京中華民國廣場，以及位於宏京皮卡丘國家公園內之孔子公園，飽覽宏京風光。
看了以上報導，心生寒意，沮喪無奈。回顧一下26年前，在巴拿馬舉辦的那次第27屆年會暨第21次懇親大會。兩相比較，感慨萬千。(2)
1992年9月10日下午8時，六國華僑聯合總會27屆年會暨21次懇親大會，在中巴文化中心中正體育館舉行開幕典禮。可以容納四千人的體育館，主場及看台座無虛席。開幕典禮前，貴賓室內，中巴兩國政要雲集，包括巴拿馬兩位副總統亞里亞斯和福特、九位內閣部長、五位次長、三位國會議員，以及中華民國駐巴拿馬大使蘇秉照、僑務委員會委員長曾廣順、中國國民黨海外工作會主任鍾湖濱、僑選立委曾芙美、巴拿馬中華總會兩位永久名譽會長陳奉天及盧湛濤，以及中美洲各國華僑總會會長等近40人，彼此寒暄暢談。席間，福特副總統曾向曾委員長等人表示，中巴兩國關係敦睦，已有近百年歷史，華僑支持中華民國是一大原因，福特讚揚巴拿馬華僑的勤奮和對巴拿馬的貢獻。(3)
開幕典禮中，陳奉天會長以地主國華僑家長的身分致歡迎詞時表示：1980年代的十年，是台灣的黃金十年，前年(1990年)3月，中華民國的外滙儲備，突破美金720億元，躍居世界第一。國民所得除日本外，也是亞洲之首。我們中美洲六國華僑，與有榮焉，引以為傲。中美洲六國華僑，每年舉辦的僑團年會及懇親大會，一年比一年熱烈，祝各國鄕親在巴拿馬，有一個最美好最難忘的時光。
曾委員長也在會中代表李登輝總統宣讀賀詞，期勉僑社碩彥抒發智慧經驗，協助中華民國各項建設，共謀僑社福祉。
曾委員長並且報告了當天上午，與各國僑胞代表晉見恩達拉總統的情形。恩達拉總統相當高興，提起四個月前，率團前往台北，慶賀李登輝總統就職大典，留給他的深度美好印象。(4)
巴拿馬第一副總統亞里亞斯也應邀致詞，除了對各國華僑代表光臨巴拿馬表示熱烈歡迎外，並且強調巴拿馬與中華民國的邦誼永固，巴拿馬一直認為自由、民主、均富的中華民國與我們巴拿馬共和國建國的理念和奮鬥的目標完全一致。
當晚的活動與餐會同步舉行，包括巴拿馬傳統舞蹈、粵劇、民歌演唱、舞會等等。各國代表也紛紛展現了自己的演藝專長，全場僑胞熱情洋溢，留下深刻印象。
第二天9月11日，六國僑團代表，在中巴文化中心會議廳，舉行僑團會議，議題三十餘項逐題討論，國內長官均列席指導。
懇親會的各國鄉親，分兩梯隊展開遊覽活動，一隊前往巴拿馬古城及山湖公園，另一隊赴筒朗自由貿易區購買免稅精品。各國僑胞對主辦單位巴拿馬中華總會的周詳安排，工作人員的熱情服務，深表感謝難忘。(5)
六國僑團會議在密集式的討論下，決議將致力於提𢹂後進，扶植新秀，爭取才能品德優異人士參與僑社工作，建設僑居地公共事務，鼓勵競選公職，増進華僑權益。決議文除致函僑委會參考外，並在年會閉幕式中摘要宣讀。
年會於11日晚間七時，在中巴文化中心中正體育館舉行閉幕典禮，儀式中宣讀大會聯合聲明，誓言結合全僑力量，積極支持中華民國政府所訂定的《國家統一綱領》及僑團會議結論，上電李登輝總統及郝柏村院長致敬。並且頒獎表揚各國好人好事代表、模範母親與熱心服務青年代表。
閉幕儀式中駐巴拿馬大使蘇秉照、曾廣順委員長、鍾湖濱主任、僑選立委曾芙美，都相繼致詞。巴拿馬中華總會永久名譽會長陳奉天、會長何麟生，先後發言感謝各國鄉親的恭逢盛會，並向國內長官遠道前來與會，提振華僑士氣，表示由衷感謝。
國內長官對此次大會圓滿成功，展現六國華僑團結一致，支持中華民國政府，以三民主義統一中國的堅定立場，表示欽佩。
閉幕典禮歴時近兩小時結束，會後繼續一連串的娛樂活動，直至凌晨一時，各國鄉親才盡興地互道珍重，明年再會聲中，逐漸離去。(6)
年會期中，中巴文化中心中山學校的師生們，為了表示對各國僑胞及國內官員歡迎之意，除了動員全體師生整理校區環境外，早在一個月前，就著手準備一項華語文教學成果展覽，內容包括作文、書法、鋼筆字、國畫、壁報，以及美勞作品、中國結等等，真是琳琅滿目美不勝收。
其中兩幅壁報，製作得相當精緻，是師生們心血智慧的結晶。內容分別是介紹曾委員長及鍾主任歷年來，奔走海外各僑社與僑胞互動的文章和照片，文字簡潔、圖片生動。各國僑胞對中山學校華文教學的嚴謹、師資的優良、學生的好學都給予相當高的評價。
為了舒展身心，第三天行程，安排成兩組，一組遊覽運河，另一組參加一場命名為《湖濱杯高爾夫球賽》的活動，可任擇其一。
遊覽巴拿馬運河這一組人數最多，租用了六部遊覽車，運河管理委員會特別安排僑胞至水閘主控室，參觀船隻通過水閘的操作過程，隨後乘船遊覽運河風景最秀麗的加敦湖《蛇彎渠道》這一段，湖中有一連串小島，島上棲息許多珍禽異鳥及生長着國寳级的熱帶雨林植物，行經小島可以聽到淸晰悅耳的鳥鳴聲，鄕親們遊玩得相當暢心。
高爾夫球場佔地約兩萬坪，地點在巴拿馬市郊一處具有國際水準的湖水之濱，係由國民黨駐巴拿馬支部安排，參加比賽的除了鍾湖濱主任伉儷外，還有巴拿馬的漢光高球隊及哥斯達黎加華光高球隊成員，與賽者在盡情揮桿之餘，還飽覧了這裡的湖光山色。(7)
年會及懇親大會閉幕式後的中美洲六國華僑小姐選拔，安排在最後兩個小時，在午夜前結束，然而各國鄉親及在地僑胞，熱情洋溢，全場沸騰至凌晨。
鍾主任的夫人孫鐵映女士，因有深厚的學養，能說一口流利的西班牙語及英語，被大會邀請擔任五位評審之一。各國佳麗除了表演僑居國民族舞蹈外，並且穿著旗袍走過舞台，各顯才藝，接受機智問答。孫女士在評語中指出，中美洲各國華僑小姐美麗動人，在儀態、才藝、機智、語言表達能力方面，都很出色。評審會只能在些微差數中，選拔優勝。同時指出，美麗實在很難有一個確切標準，她說《自信就是美》，無疑給美下了一個最佳的詮釋。
1992年的六國僑團年會暨懇親大會，在主辦單位巴拿馬中華總會的精心策劃下，各國鄉親踴躍參與，相當盡興。大會以圓滿、美麗、溫馨、團結結束。
今年(2018年)這項凝聚僑心的六國僑社活動，依序輪值再度由巴拿馬主辦，無奈因巴拿馬共和國去年六月轉向承認中華人民共和國，僑社領導們在意識形態作祟下，無意續辦。尼加拉瓜雖與中華民國維持外交關係，也以政局動盪為由，未便接辦。最後依次輪到宏都拉斯，在臨危受命的形勢下，只辦年會，停辦懇親大會，在兩岸現今政治氛圍下，實屬難得。
照說，這個凝聚僑心，團結僑社，全球第一個成立的區域性華僑聯盟組織，不應政治因素而停止舉辦，反而應該將活動內容，辦得更加熱烈有聲有色。
由巴拿馬宣佈承認中華人民共和國(2017年6月13日)的次日，中巴文化中心中山學校大門橫匾上的中華民國國旗，立即摘下的舉措來看(巴拿馬政府迄今仍未禁止華人社團、學校，升懸中華民國國旗)。不竟讓我們產生太多的聯想，兩岸和平統一的願景，必將延遲。捫心自問，我們做錯了什麼。(8，本篇完)
第17篇：深情郁濃
每句話都令人感動
民國83年(1994年)9月1日，巴拿馬共和國總統巴利亞達雷斯Ernesto Balladares就職(任期：1994年9月1日至1999年9月1日）。中華民國第8任副總統李元簇(任期1990年5月20日至1996年5月19日)率團慶賀。
8月30日晚間，慶賀團抵達巴京前三個小時，旅居巴拿馬的僑胞600餘人，早已相聚在巴京龍鳳酒樓，以盛大的場面，設宴歡迎李副總統暨特使團成員，以表達心中最崇高的敬意。(1)
歡宴大廳在下午6時前佈置就緒，四百多面綢質中、巴串式國旗懸連各個角落，大廳正面以6公尺長、1．5公尺寛的橫幅，紅底白字書以《巴拿馬全僑歡迎中華民國李副總統元簇博士宴會》，兩旁各置巨幅中巴國旗各一面。兩邊牆壁配以《自由民主均富統一中國》及《勤勞互助和協團結僑社》的標語，再配上燈光效果，整個會場凸顯出喜氣洋洋。
晚間8時，大廳已座無虛席，中華總會永久名譽會長陳奉天、盧湛濤，會長何麟生及各僑團主席，依序排列在廳前恭迎。8時15分，李副總統在警察摩托車隊的護衛引導下，由大使蘇秉照及隨行團員30餘人陪同，抵達會場。
此時奏起恭迎軍樂和燃放鞭炮，花縣同鄉會的醒獅團，鑼鼓喧天，以舞獅相迎。當李副總統進入會場時，全體僑胞起立熱烈鼓掌，李副總統頻頻含笑答禮，同時也奏起了薄海騰歡、龍翔鳳舞等國樂，會場一片熱鬧祥和。(2)
宴會先由中華總會何麟生會長致歡迎詞，對李副總統率團來巴，慶賀巴國總統就職，宣慰旅巴僑胞，僕僕風麈，備極辛勞，表示由衷敬佩感謝之意，並且推崇李副總統從政以來，落實推動中華民國憲政改革的卓越成就。
緊接著李副總統向在場的中外來賓，發表相當感性的談話。
李副總統説，當一個人離開他的故鄉的時候，到了另外一個陌生的國家時，他最樂意也最高興見到的，就是自己的親人。他說：今天，我一下飛機，就看到我們這麼多的僑領，和中山學校這麼多的小朋友，手裡持著我們的國旗，內心感到非常非常地激動，也非常非常地高興。
李副總統接著說：在我小的時候，常常浮現在腦海中的是，不知道甚麼時候，才能有機會看一看貫穿兩洋的巴拿馬運河。他又說：早在3年前，也就是民國80年(1991年)，訪問過中美洲的哥斯達黎加、宏都拉斯和尼加拉瓜三個國家，那個時候就希望能就近到巴拿馬訪問，但是當時在這三個國家，耽擱的時間太久，國內的公務又急待處理，所以沒有實現自己的期望。但是，今天我到了巴拿馬，在我人生的旅程上，能夠實現小時候夢想的事，尤其感到愉快。(3）
李副總統說，距離現在大概有140多年，我們的祖先為了建設巴拿馬鐵路，遠渡重洋來到這裏，對巴拿馬就作了很大的貢獻，本世紀（20世紀）初華僑又參與了開闢運河的艱鉅工作。到了今天，旅居巴拿馬的僑胞們，對於巴拿馬的建設，更有重大的貢獻。我們的僑胞們，在巴拿馬的社會中，也爭取到很高的地位，像在座的，就有巴國的審計長鄭道華先生，相當於中華民國的審計部部長，也有新當選的國會議員楊柯麗雅女士。此外，在巴拿馬的社會中，有知名的大學教授、律師，還有很多的工商界領袖。
他認為，中巴兩國的友誼，能夠如此穏固，因素不只一個，其中最重要的一個就是旅居巴拿馬的華僑，對巴拿馬有諸多的貢獻。華僑在巴拿馬的社會裏，有很高的地位，為巴國人民所崇敬，所以中巴兩國的邦誼才能這麼鞏固。我代表我們的國家，來謝謝在巴拿馬的華僑。
李副總統抵達巴拿馬後，立即在機場，由交通部長劉兆玄與巴拿馬外交部長莫里諾，共同簽署了中巴兩國的航權協定。
李副總統在宴會中指出，有了這個航權協定之後，中巴兩國地理上的距離雖然沒有改變，但用時間的觀念來看，將來我們的飛機可以直接飛到巴拿馬，巴拿馬的飛機也可以飛到我們的國家，因此兩國的距離拉近了，雙方的關係也因此更加密切。我們不但在貿易上可以加強，同時在觀光方面也好，交流方面也好，在座的同胞要回到自己的國家，看望自己的家人親戚朋友也好，想必會來得更容易。我要謝謝我們外交部有關同仁的努力，也要謝謝巴拿馬政府的合作。
數月後，中華民國長榮航空開闢台北經洛杉磯直飛巴拿馬航線，華僑不必再繞道歐洲，經香港回到大陸故鄉探親。可以直接到台北轉香港進大陸，既省錢更省時，給僑胞帶來很大的便利。(4)
李副總統同時指出：僑胞對政府的支持，一向不遺餘力，因此我要特別重申，政府必將更加努力，積極照顧海外的僑胞，加強僑社的聯繫與服務，輔導經濟事業的發展，推動華僑的文教工作。希望海外的同胞，大家能夠心手相連，為我們中華民族的振興共同努力。
李副總統接著說，在巴拿馬僑社中，中巴文化中心對於中巴兩國文化交流，貢獻非常的大，我要藉著這個機會，聊表一點心意。
李副總統將一張美金10萬元的支票，面交中巴文化中心董事長陳奉天，作為中心發展基金。陳奉天立即以粵語宣佈，全場報以熱烈掌聲。
致詞最後，李副總統很幽默地又說了以下這段話：吃飯的時候，最怕人家講話，講得太多太長。但是今天我不但講得多，又講得長，這是因為我第一次來到巴拿馬，第一次看到諸位同胞，我心裡實在太高興了，所以講得又多又長。不過這個責任不能全由我一個人來負責，我們的侯淸山副司長，也佔了一半時間翻譯成西班牙語，現在由我們兩人共同負責。此時，又引起一片笑聲。
但是李副總統的話還沒有完，他說他差點忘了一件事情，就是他臨行前，李登輝總統交待他，一定要把懷念巴拿馬僑胞的情感，轉達給此間的僑胞。9年前，當時李登輝總統以副總統身分，訪問巴拿馬，僑胞給予熱情接待，使他感動，至今心存懷念，特別請他轉達感謝之意。最後，李副總統在恭祝大家身體健康事業發達，巴拿馬僑社團結合作聲中，結束了這次相當感性的演說。
餐會進行中，李副總統由蘇秉照大使及陳奉天諸僑領陪同下，逐桌向僑胞敬酒。對一位高齡93歲的鄭老太太及一位85歲行動不便的張老先先，均由兒孫攙扶，專程由內地前來參加盛會，更表達了由衷的感激之意。(5)
次日8月31日(星期三)上午八時，李副總統一行與各國慶賀團，前往巴拿馬總統府，與卸任總統恩達拉及候任總統巴利亞達雷斯會面。李副總統是距離巴拿馬最遠的國家領導人，兩位總統對李副總統率團專程來訪，表示由衷的感謝。
上午近十時，李副總統由蘇大使陪同，來到中巴文化中心，各僑團主席及中山學校師生代表百餘人，在中心門口迎接。李副總統親切地與僑領們及師生們握手致意。並與各僑團主席，在中山學校校門前合影留念。
上午十時，走向大操場，李副總統與全體師生，舉行升旗典禮。陳奉天董事長在左，升巴拿馬共和國國旗，並奏國歌，李副總統在右，升中華民國國旗，在全體師生及僑領們齊唱中華民國國歌聲中，國旗冉冉升起，迎風飄揚。
隨後在陳奉天、盧湛濤、何麟生諸僑領陪同下，走進二樓大禮堂，與僑團主席及教師代表，舉行座談。就中巴兩國文化交流及華語文教學交換意見。華文老師發言踴躍，李副總統頻頻點頭讚許。教師們爭相與李副總統合影拍照。會後巡視圖書館、中正體育館及中心各項設施，李副總統慰勉僑界先進，充分發揮中巴文化中心功能，貢獻巴國社會。
李副總統並在蔣公銅像右側植樹紀念，整個行程洋溢在深情郁濃之中。(6)
李元簇副總統於民國。85年(1996年)5月19日卸任後，遠離塵囂不問政治，隱居苗栗頭份鄉下長達20年，潛研佛學，生活清靜，兩袖清風，一直沒有聽到他的聲音，聽到的卻是他駕鶴西飛的消息。國內法學界、文教界給了他這一生一個最貼切的詮釋《無聲中見智慧，剛直中見志節》。
李副總統（1923．9．24．一2017．3．8．）德國波昂大學法學博士，歷任法官、政治大學校長、教育部長、法務部長、總統府秘書長。懷念這位一生奉獻台灣、熱愛台灣、熱愛僑胞的長輩，哲人其萎，謹致以最崇高的敬禮。(7，本篇完)
第18篇：一次動員造勢
的聚會
民國77年(1988年)1月13日，中華民國第七任總統蔣經國逝世於任內（任期為1984年5月20日至1990年5月19日)，副總統李登輝繼任為總統。
中華民國政府為回應在台灣民主化的呼聲與本土化等政治情勢，民國80年(1991年)，李登輝時任第八任總統（任期為1990年5月20日至1996年5月 19日)，首次修訂中華民國憲法，增加《中華民國憲法增修條文》，任內曾增修6次。
民國83年(1994年)7月，第3次增修時，確立總統、副總統由人民直接選舉。
民國85年(1996年)5月20日，李登輝、連戰，依據該增修條文，就任首次由人民直選出來的第九任總統副總統(任期四年，1996年5月20日至2000年5月19日)。(1)
中華民國首次在台澎金馬地區舉行的總統直選(1996年3月23日投票）競爭相當激烈，共計有四組人參選。分別為，國民黨籍的李登輝、連戰，民進黨籍的彭明敏、謝長廷，新黨籍的林洋港、郝柏村，獨立候選人的陳履安、王清峰。
在當年的政治氛圍下，海外各地紛紛成立李登輝後援會、李登輝之友會，成為支持李、連競選的最大助力。選後，又紛紛成立李登輝總統之友聯誼會。
民國85年（1996年)9月，中美洲六國華僑總會年會暨懇親大會在哥斯達黎加舉行，巴拿馬中華總會會長鍾震邦，在年會上當場對成立李登輝總統之友聯誼會之建議，表示異議。認為李、連已經順利當選就任，後援會及之友會任務已經圓滿達成，即可撤銷，不必再組成什麼什麼聯誼會，搞個人崇拜。鍾震邦的聲音，沒有被接受，各國李登輝總統之友聯誼會陸續成立。(2)
六國華僑總會哥斯達黎加年會後，巴拿馬僑社沒有成立聯誼會組織。仍保留《巴拿馬李登輝總統之友會》，繼續運作。
民國85年(1996年)發生台海危機(1995年7月至1996年3月），緣起李登輝於1995年訪問美國引爆。自1989年六四運動以後，美國不再拉攏中共對抗蘇聯，1990年初東歐巨變，蘇聯解體，美國轉為拉攏在台灣的中華民國，對抗中共。
1996年3月，中華民國在台澎金馬地區舉行總統直選，北京欲在巴拿馬設立辦事處，進而建立全面外交關係的策略，障礙獲得突破。同年10月16日，辦事處正式掛牌。從此，中華人民共和國在巴拿馬從事外交、經貿、僑務等統戰活動，有了著力點。
1997年1至3月，巴拿馬親北京僑領、僑團，媚共心態浮於檯面，積極配合辦事處運作。打撃親中華民國之僑領僑團為其一，7月1日香港回歸，舉辦系列慶祝活動為其二，協助辦事處發展與巴拿馬的關係為其三，破壞中華民國大使館與僑胞之間的感情為其四（製造大使館三等秘書劉魯宏事件，挑撥大使館與僑胞之間的深厚感情，造成僑務工作一度緊張的所謂《三月風暴》。）以及阻撓9月初，李總統出席巴拿馬運河環球會議，為其五。
在如此嚴峻的情勢下，由全球各地李登輝總統之友聯誼會和全球各地台商會的會員們，發起在巴拿馬運河環球會議期間(1997年9月5日至9月9日)，全球各地兩會會員，會師於巴拿馬，成立《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會》及《世界台商首屆年會》，矢志擁戴李登輝總統。(3)
民國86年（1997年)四月間，僑務委員會及國民黨海外工作會，分別行文大使館及國民黨中南美洲特派員辦公室：李登輝總統，出席九月巴拿馬運河環球會議期間，全球各地《之友會》及《台商會》會員代表會師巴拿馬，敬請支援主辦單位，推動各項活動，期望圓滿成功。
大使館及黨部就《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會》成立大會，及《世界台商年會》活動籌備事宜，交換意見，決議兩會活動分別舉行，並呈文僑委會及國民黨中央報備。世界台商年會由大使館僑務秘書鄧毅雄主導，支援巴拿馬台商會辦理(前任僑務秘書吳光定，已於1996年6月調回僑委會)。世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會成立大會，由國民黨海工會協助巴拿馬李登輝總統之友會，推動各項籌備工作。(4)
四月中旬，《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會成立大會籌備會》，由中國國民黨駐中南美洲特派員吳朝昱召集巴拿馬黨支部委員，及邀請巴拿馬李登輝總統之友會、中巴文化中心中山學校等僑領、華文教師近20人，研商籌備事宜。
四月下旬，作業全面啟動，首先走訪包括巴拿馬國家劇院在內的巴京各五星級酒店，擇一為開閉幕及會議地點，最終選擇新開幕營業不久的，濱巴拿馬灣巴博亞大道上的觀海洒店Hotel Miramar。
進駐旅館為西班牙大道上的巴拿馬酒店Hotel El Panama(1980年9月孫運璿院長訪問巴拿馬，下榻飯店)。
每日早餐均在巴拿馬酒店，午餐在附近數家中餐館，晩宴在觀海洒店、中巴文化中心中正體育館及國際酒樓。
依據籌備會各次決議，由黨部秘書陳昌智撰文寫成《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會成立大會活動須知》6000字24頁一夲，供會員參考。(5)
筆者在編寫《成立大會活動須知》過程中被告之，增列聯合總會顧問九名。分別為：1，時任國民黨秘書長的吳伯雄。2，考試院長許水德。3，李總統次女李安妮夫婿，大學教授賴國洲。4，外交部長章孝嚴。5，僑委會委員長祝基瀅。6，國民黨海外工作會主任王能章。7，中華民國工業總會理事長許勝發。8，統一企業董事長高清愿。9，大學教授黃三榮。
在任務分組方面：1，交通組長鍾浩良。2，活動組長劉秋林。3，接待組長吳秀蓮。4，總務組長莫培偉。5，餐飲組長張招珍。6，聯絡組長張郁貞。7，車輛調度鄭綠然。8，遊覽車隨車服務員五名：劉偉科、張少娟、吳偉贊、吳毅賢、侯玉輝。均諳西班牙語、國語、廣東話。
籌備會秘書長為黃國昌（國民黨美國西南黨部常委)，五位秘書分別為：1，吳朝昱。2，王竹猗(海工會)。3，方芬(美西南黨部)。4，江芳鋭(美西南黨部)。5，陳昌智。
整個活動期間，各工作人員，不畏辛勞，圓滿完成任務，深獲各國之友會會友深度讚許。但也遭到一些微辭，巴拿馬某僑領快語直言，延聘李登輝女婿賴國洲為聯合總會顧問，似有奉承拍馬之意。(6)
民國83年(1994年)9月，中華民國李元簇副總統率團慶賀巴拿馬總統巴雅達雷斯(或譯：巴利亞達雷斯Ernesto Balladares)就職，巴雅達雷斯總統邀請李登輝總統擇期訪問巴拿馬。
兩年後，聯合國第51屆大會決議，於1997年9月，在巴拿馬召開運河環球會議。二月間，巴拿馬政府同時邀請兩岸領導人出席，遭到北京嚴厲撻伐。由於巴雅達雷斯總統拒絕收回對李登輝總統的邀請，運河環球會議幾乎閙得停辦。
時任中華民國國家安全局長的殷宗文，以李總統特使身分，穿梭於台灣巴拿馬之間協調聯繫，加上美國從中斡旋。最終，聯合國採折衷辦法，於1997年8月21日宣佈：聯合國及所屬機構，不正式出席巴拿馬運河環球會議。因此有了1997年9月，李總統伉儷率領106人赴巴拿馬，展開元首外交出擊的《太平之旅》，此次會議僅有中華民國在中美洲數個邦交國元首出席，却付出了高達美金1億4千萬元的代價。
雖然運河環球會議命運多舛，但《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會成立大會》及《世界台商會議》，仍然按照原計劃籌備進行。畢竟，這是中華民國元首，首次造訪巴拿馬共和國。(7)
九月三日（星期三)籌備會最後一次滙報，由特派員吳朝昱及秘書長僑務委員黃國昌共同主持，各項工作已經準備就緒。
當日下午，接待組在巴拿馬酒店一樓大廳，完成服務台設置。
下午六時，為迎接首批會友到達，十人交通組已就國際機場各個位置。機門口手舉明顯標誌迎賓，協助快速通關，領取行李，搭乘接送專車送往旅館。
第一個抵達的是《港澳地區李登輝總統之友聯誼會》，從出機門，不到一個小時，就到達旅館。比起一般情況，至少節省50分鐘。
籌備會備有會友名冊，內有會員中英文姓名、所屬單位、職稱、會員識別證編號、旅店房間號碼、資料袋編號、備考各欄。設計一清二楚，對推展活動，具有指標性的功能。
抵達旅店之會友，先至服務台，核實身分後領取資料袋，袋內的會友識別證背面註明房間號碼，及活動期間乘車號碼。會員憑識別證，至旅店櫃台領取房間鑰匙。作業快速便捷，有賓至如歸的感覺。
每一房間內，由籌備處致贈花籃一個，海外工作會主任王能章贈送應時水果一籃。(8)
九月三日下午七時，第一個單位報到，至九月五日清晨五時，最後一位會友進住旅館，連續34個小時，服務台的工作沒有一刻中止。接待組長吳秀蓮全程坐鎮服務台，中山學校華文教師宋曼莉、林玉鳳，支援作業。服務台增設分機一座，秘書陳昌智除協助報到工作外，隨時通報酒店周邊狀況。
九月六日(星期六)上午六時，一部警車、八輛摩托車警騎、兩輛黑頭轎車及五輛遊覽車，已停妥旅館周邊道路。
吳秀蓮見警車、警騎，前桿未懸國旗，立即將備用之中巴兩國綢質小國旗(36cmx24cm)，贈送各車駕駛，並協助懸掛，囑託活動期間全程繫用。吳秀蓮被各警察先生尊稱為國旗太太（Senora Bandera)(9)
早餐後，各會友集合在酒店迴廊前，各車服務員手持指引標誌，引導上車。
與其同時，各僑團代表近200人，中巴文化中心中山學校師生1500餘人，台商會會員及眷屬逾1000人，中外記者、電台電視台人員超過100人，分別從各地向篤姑門國際機場集結。
之友會歡迎李登輝總統來訪的隊伍，由警車鳴笛前導，八輛重型摩托騎警護衛車隊行進。警車之後，海工會主任王能章伉儷及隨扈，坐於首輛座車，次輛為黨工人員，再次是五輛遊覽車。筆者在第一輛車最前方駕駛之右，手持對講機，與各車保持聯絡，隨時通報車隊行車狀況，居高臨下，看見車隊浩浩蕩蕩，一路通行無阻到達機場。熙往攘來的車輛及行人，給予奇異眼光，紛紛走避讓路。這是我生平第一次，因工作關係，沾上如此風光禮遇，終生難忘。(10)
在各車服務員的引導下，李登輝之友會的會友們，進入迎賓指定位置。上午八時三十分，李總統伉儷由駐巴拿馬大使袁健生陪同，從機場左側快速通道，步入寬約10公尺，長約500公尺的歡迎步道。
步道兩側，左為僑團僑胞代表，右為李登輝總統之友會各地會友。世界各地台商會及中山學校師生，各方兩側。迎賓隊伍每人手持中巴兩國國旗。
當李總統一行人，步入歡迎步道，中巴兩國國旗飛舞，《總統好，總統好》之聲，響徹雲霄。中外記者、電視台電台記者，一湧而上爭取鏡頭。兩會會友情緒激動，趨前爭相與李總統握手致意，中巴兩國安全人員，緊張萬分。
李總統從進入歡迎步道，到走至最後一人，登上座車，至少有30分鐘。
李總統在中山學校師生行列中，頻頻垂詢校長Jesus Oscar及同學們生活學習情形，心情相當愉快，歡喜溢於眉宇。
次日，巴拿馬第一大報《La Prensa》譽稱，有如此強大的動員造勢能力，非台灣莫屬。(11）
對於李登輝總統的到訪，巴拿馬政府受到聯合國以中共為首的強大壓力，李登輝到達時，沒有軍禮歡迎，沒有21響禮砲，巴拿馬總統也沒有到機場迎接，開導的摩托車，竟是長榮集團稍早贈送的三陽機車。
巴拿馬總統府發給外國記者登輝行程中，竟然略去參加運河會議的部份，弄得外籍記者満頭霧水，不知李先生此行來幹什麼。使得大使館新聞參事處，相當尷尬。
相對地，中華民國政府及執政黨，却動員了全球各地李登輝總統之友及台商會會友，結合僑社僑校造勢歡迎的一頭熱現象。
巴拿馬僑領，陳奉天先生的胞弟中山同鄉會主席陳昆慶，説得相當中肯：李登輝總統的來訪，如此動員歡迎，固然顯示出一股團结的力量，但對巴拿馬政府及民間來說，未必能造成其擴散效應以深遠影響。(12)
迎接了李總統一行人之後，兩會會友分赴巴拿馬城近郊遊覽。之友會在警騎摩托車隊的開導下，先參觀古城遺址，再去法國廣場。
1502年哥倫布經由多明尼加島向西南行，登陸巴拿馬。1513年9月25日，西班牙探險家巴波亞(Balboa1475-1517)帶領一隊人，穿越巴拿馬地峽，由大西洋岸到達太平洋岸。發現這裡面對一個風平浪靜的海灣，有山有河，有花有魚有蝴蝶，有如銀河墜落的一顆珍珠。
巴波亞回到西班牙，大肆宣傳巴拿馬有如世外桃園。隨後大批西班牙移民，來到這裡，當年有《太平洋珍珠》之美譽。西班牙人於1519年在此建巴拿馬城，明年(2019年)，將是建城500週年，巴拿馬政府及民間，將以嘉年華形式歡渡。(13）
1519年建立的巴拿馬城，被稱為古城(Panama Viejo），1650年代人口已增加到10萬人。
1671年海盜亨利摩根(Henry Morgan)圍攻這座城市，掠奪行經地峽運往西班牙王室的黃金。古城被海盜洗劫後燒毀，現存主教堂的一些大型磚石建築，已成為觀光熱門景點。
當年海盜曾襲擊古城鄰近的一座黃金祭壇大教堂(Iglesias San Jose) ，人們為了要保存堂內的黃金祭壇，將其漆成黑色，而保存了下來。
兩年後(1673年)，西班牙人在巴拿馬灣西北方，距離古城逾10公里處築一新城，現在被稱為舊城(Casio Viejo)，包括Santa Ana ，San Felipe，Chorrillo三區，今日的總統府、主教大堂、郵政總局及中國城，都在舊城區內。因此現在的巴拿馬城，有古城(遺址)、舊城、新城、開發區之分。（14)
李登輝總統之友會的各地會友們，遊覽了巴拿馬古城遺址後，接著前往另一個景點法國廣場(Plaza De Francia)。法國廣場位於Casco Viejo半島東南方，屬舊城San Felipe區。緣起紀念法國工程師李西普(Ferdinand De Lesseps1805-1894)而命名。
1880年，李西普延續開鑿蘇伊士運河的成功經驗，到了巴拿馬，開鑿巴拿馬運河，長達七年之久。卻因巴拿馬地峽的複雜地形及黃熱病肆虐，工程失敗，宣告破産。後由美國接手挖掘，於1914年完成。
Casco Viejo半島面積僅0．3平方公里，半島內有法國駐巴拿馬大使館、廣場紀念館、運河紀念碑及法國廣場。
運河紀念碑石階而上，面對運河太平洋岸入口，碑長約20公尺，形似華盛頓紀念碑。碑頂有一隻銅鑄公鷄，象徵法國大革命的標誌，鷄頭面向法國。碑座平台下有Las Bovedas花園一座，步道一旁排列着歷史上，對開鑿巴拿馬運河有特殊功勲者的半身銅像紀念碑，並有碑文記述事蹟。
進入半島前的住商合一區，遊覽車停靠路旁，會員們徒步走到島內各景點，可以近距離接觸一幢幢西班牙式磚造小樓，以及享受購物樂趣。(15)
半島上的兩條街，有多家知名的禮品店及餐館，除了可以選購多樣的晶品外，還可以飽啖法式、義式、及地道的巴拿馬美食。
之友會的會員們，中午安排在粵菜館龍鳳樓用餐。下午二時，前往中巴友誼公園，參加落成啟用典禮。
中巴友誼公園佔地三萬平方公尺，緊鄰中巴文化中心後山，有一陸橋跨越一條公路，連接兩地。
經過僑領們的努力奔走，在原有的基礎上，歷時兩年整建，闢為具有中華文化色彩的公園，並命名為中巴友誼公園，表徴中華民國與巴拿馬共和國，兩國人民間的深厚友誼。1997年9月6日，由李登輝總統剪綵啟用。
當天觀禮人數，除了上午原班動員接機人員外，自動前往的僑胞及附近居民，至少也有三千多人。
開幕典禮由巴拿馬中華總會永久名譽會長、中巴文化中心創辦人陳奉天主持，距離他謝世12月23日，僅108天。（16)
結束了中巴友誼公園落成活動後，返回旅館休息，並召開第二次預備會議。與其同時，世界台商年會開幕典禮，在Hotel Marriott舉行，之友會會員可自由參加。
下午四時，全體會員登車赴Bella Vista區觀海酒店Hotel Miramar，出席《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會》的開幕典禮及聆聽李總統演講。
開幕典禮在觀海酒店可以容納千人的會議大廳舉行，當時營業不久，與有榮焉，首次接納有總統級的大規模活動。
由於大廳的舞台設計，不符合開幕典禮需求，必須加寬尺寸。舞台後方的裝飾過於通俗，必須另行設計，凸顯會議精神。這兩項工程，都趕在開幕典禮前一天完成，所費自然不貲。(17)
誇張的是，舞台背景5公尺高、12公尺寬的精神標誌，由原先的木板設計，更改為藍色綢質布縵。用12個鐵架，以螺絲連結組合成一整塊，即美觀又氣派。
平平整整的布縵上，用顏真卿楷書《世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會成立大會開幕典禮》字樣呈現。
12公尺的舞台正面，用最名貴的巴拿馬蝴蝶蘭盆栽佈置。僑領們讚嘆：國民黨真有錢。語氣令人玩味。(18)
李登輝總統在開典禮中指出：民國73年（1984年)，他輔佐經國先生出任中華民國第七任副總統，民國77年1月13日，經國先生辭世，他繼任總統。兩年後的民國79年，被國民大會選為第八任總統。民國85年(1996年)更依據中華民國憲法增修條文，全民直選為第九任總統，迄今(1997年9月)，其間擔任副總統4年、總統10年。我一直兢兢業業、克盡職守，為國為民服務。
去年海內海外各地，紛紛成立李登輝之友會，今年又在巴拿馬成立世界聯合總會，我要向各位會友，誠摰地表達感謝之意，隨時隨地給我建言，以不負經國先生及全民所托。(19)
結束了之友會聯合總會成立大會開幕典禮之後，會友們登車前往中巴文化中心中正體育館，參加晚間七時，由巴拿馬中華總會主辦的全僑歡迎李總統伉儷宴會。
這是繼民國74年(1985年)李登輝以副總統身分，代表經國先生訪問巴拿馬，在巴京國際會議中心，全僑舉辦兩千人的盛大歡宴之後，又一次以超越兩千人的動員能量，舉辦全僑歡宴。
巴拿馬僑界歡迎中華民國政府首長來訪，有史以來最大一次的歡宴，是民國69年(1980年)9月3日，行政院長孫運璿的巴拿馬國是訪問。
當時的大使館僑務秘書吳光定(任期僑委會史上最長，1972年6月至1996年6月，長達24年)出面請商中華總會，試探舉辦全僑聯合歡宴的可能性。中華總會隨即召開僑團主席籌備歡迎事宜。僑胞踴躍參與，以800人的盛大場面，歡迎孫院長一行。
然而這一次的動員宴會，雖然仍有人氣，但缺少了熱情。尤以左傾僑團給予掣肘，甚至於對精神標語《三民主義統一中國》都有意見。(20)
九月七日(星期日）上午，之友會聯合總會大會，在觀海酒店舉行了兩次會議，與李總統隨行人員交換意見。午後，參觀運河水閘及阿瑪鐸長堤(Calzada De Amador)。
阿瑪鐸長堤面積2．2平方公里(220萬平方公尺)，位於巴拿馬城和橫跨巴拿馬運河入口處的美洲大橋間，一水之隔與東北方的Casco Viejo半島平行。運河開鑿時，將挖掘出來的16億公噸泥沙，填結巴拿馬灣近海四個小島而成。
長堤之上，曾是美國軍事基地，有許多美軍宿舍美式建築，風光明媚，景色宜人，是巴拿馬著名觀光景點。
2017年6月，中華人民共和國與巴拿馬共和國建交。巴拿馬政府同意提供四公頃土地(約合9．88英畝，或4．12台灣甲)，作為大使館建館用地，但受到美國政府強烈施壓而受阻。(21)
遊覽了運河水閘及阿瑪鐸長堤後，返回旅館(巴拿馬酒店)休息，並召開主席團會議。
晚間七時，赴觀海酒店，原開幕典禮會場，出席由國民黨主辦的聯合總會歡宴。宴會以西式套餐招待，濃湯、沙拉、甜品、魚子醬、牛柳、海鮮、紅酒，一應俱全，闊氣盛極一時。
在場的一位僑團郭姓副主席回憶，他抗戰勝利那年，移居巴拿馬，半個世紀以來，參加過無數次僑宴，包括雙十國慶、國內首長來訪、海軍敦睦艦隊來訪等等，餐點盛筵以這次最為闊綽。
近年來拜科技之賜，每日用網路與老友交談，從李登輝的黑金復辟、戒急用忍、掏空黨產、釣魚台是日本領土，到政黨輪替，陳水扁的貪腐、蔡英文的跋扈，再到國民黨的落魄，韓國瑜只能自力救助，以一瓶礦泉水一碗魯肉飯，為國民黨出征，將高雄綠地變藍天。20年河東，20年河西，李登輝之友會聯合總會，早已棄於歴史的灰燼。(22)
九月八日(星期一)上午，會員自由活動，部份人前往箇朗自由貿易區探購精品，另一部份人遊覽市景，同一時間在中國城有一項牌樓揭牌活動。
儀式由僑務委員會委員長祝基瀅及僑領陣奉天共同主持。巴國內政部長、華裔政府首長、國會議員及各僑團主席、僑胞，五百餘人觀禮。李登輝總統題《敦睦邦誼》四字，於牌樓中央上方。
午後二時，全體會員經美洲大橋赴佐里拉（Chorrera)風景區遊覧，享受陽光、沙灘、漁港、美食，及附近的蘭花培植中心。
晚間在西班牙大道的華資國際酒樓，舉行惜別晚宴。遊藝節目由籌備處各工作組人員及各地區之友會會員，輪番表演歌唱、舞蹈、小提琴演奏、口技、歌仔戲等等，在全體齊唱《明天會更好》，《中華民國頌》聲中結束。(23)
九月九日（星期二)上午九時前後，之友會及台商會的會友們，分別到達箇朗大衛堡加工出口區，參加由中華民國經貿單位力促，並補助工商團體組成的《工總中美洲投資考察團》，在此加工出口區，浥注資金開啓設廠生產的開幕儀式。
儀式由行政院經建會主任委員江丙坤及巴國工商部長共同主持。
此項投資是配合李總統戒急用忍政策，在拉丁美洲另闢市場的試點。結果雷聲大雨點小，三家投資廠商血本無歸。
儀式後，回程順道遊覽箇朗市區及近郊景觀。在警察摩托車隊的開導下，按時到達巴拿馬國際機場，恭送李總統伉儷回國。未料離境行程提前一個小時，之友會的會員們，只能失望的目送專機離去。事後怪罪大使館未能及時通告，也無濟於事。
對於李登輝總統的這次《太平之旅》，旅美政治評論家花俊雄，在1997年12月號《海峽評論》84期雜誌上論述，台北啓動以戰止戰的外交策略，逼得北京只好用鬥爭到底來迎戰了。
文章指出，9月7日召開為期三天的巴拿馬運河國際會議，是為1999年底，美國將巴拿馬運河經營權交還給巴拿馬而舉行的前哨會議。
巴拿馬冀望通過這次會議，凝聚各國共識，獲致21世紀經營巴拿馬運河新方案。原估至少有20國元首參加，卻由於巴拿馬邀請了票房毒藥李登輝參加，而落到只有中華民國邦交國，宏都拉斯及尼加拉瓜兩國總統參加，此兩國目前(2018年)與中華民國，仍有外交關係。
文章又指出，台北當局意識到，如果李登輝能出席會議，哪怕是開幕式中，在電視上與世界領袖，共同亮相三分鐘也值得。有如此想法，真是匪夷所思。
這次巴拿馬動員造勢，已事隔21年，金援外交卻增加了一頁。值得還是不值得，國人要引以為戒。(24，本篇完)
第19篇：北京耕耘巴拿馬
1968年，巴拿馬國家警備軍兩名低階軍官，後來都成了國家領導人的杜里荷及諾瑞嘉，在相互支援下，發動軍事政變，取得政權。在權力分配上，杜里荷軍事資歷，高於諾瑞嘉，杜里荷取得領導地位。次年，杜就有中國大陸之行。
民國60年(1971年)10月25日，中共政權取代中華民國，成為聯合國會員國及五大常任理事國之一。
次日，蔣中正總統發表《告全國同胞書》，以振奮全國人心。隨後，中華民國外交處境日益艱難，國際地位逐漸萎縮。
民國64年(1975年）1月，聯合國安全理事會各成員國，集會巴拿馬，商討各國與巴拿馬之間有關運河通行事務。中共駐聯合國大使黃華，率領一個26人代表團，夾著盛極一時的氣焰，到達巴拿馬與會。(1)
當時中華民國駐巴拿馬大使是黃仁霖(1901-1983)，江西安義人。1926年美國哥倫比亞大學碩士，中英文造詣深厚。1934年國民政府創建《勵志社》，擔任總幹事，係一後勤供應機構，抗戰時期接待外國赴華軍政要員。深得蔣中正及宋美齡的信任，前後擔任蔣、宋特勤總管40年。
黃仁霖，1943年隨蔣中正出席開羅會議，政府遷台後，於1954年出任聯勤總司令，官拜中將，非黃埔軍系。1964年11月出使巴拿馬，1975年2月卸任。
黃華此行啣命赴巴，進行搶灘攻勢，趁此難逢機會，欲一舉摘下巴拿馬，再影響左右鄰國，產生骨牌效應，與中美洲各國全面建交。
黃仁霖大使在亳無預知的情況下，被巴拿馬外交部告之，運河會議期間應離京迴避，顯然屈服於中共的壓力，黃大使被迫於通知當日，暫避於僑領陳奉天，位於Cocle省El Valle的別墅內。這在外交禮儀上，是非常罕見的事。(2)
一輛60年代末期，車齡近十年的美國凱迪拉克大使座車，由軍職借調，海軍陸戰隊上士郜慶福駕駛，在巴京前往El Valle的路上。黃大使夫婦不發一語，一直望著車窗外，流逝的風景。黃大使應該是心有所思，如何面對未來可能發生的任何狀況。
黃大使是一位非常穩重踏實，果斷處事的人，有其將軍大使的氣度。對於巴拿馬外交部的作為，也提出了嚴正抗議。
晚間，郜慶福展現了一手好廚藝，做了幾道可口小菜，大使夫婦心情平靜，享受了一次另一類的晚餐。餐後，大使夫婦散步於山谷別墅四周。回到室內，黃大使伏案急書，應該與公務有關。
杜里荷將軍在答覆黃華是否與中共建交的前夕，事前徵詢了陳奉天的意見。陳奉天斬釘截鐵地說：在巴拿馬的華僑，永遠支持中華民國。
杜里荷讚揚陳奉天的堅貞志節，在陳奉天的影響下，挽救了一場瀕臨斷交的危機。黃華此行，並非無功而返，爭取到新華社在巴拿馬設立分社，成為往後中華人民共和國和巴拿馬共和國的官方對口單位。
次月，黃大使以健康理由請辭獲准，1981年前往紐約，與其律師長子團聚，1983年病逝於紐約。(3)
1960年代至70年代，毛澤東思想(Maoist)或稱毛主義，在拉丁美洲大行其道，許多民眾與組織，認為毛澤東的政策和理念，符合拉美國家所需，可以解決勞工大衆的窮困問題，自認是毛澤東一生理論和實踐的追隨者。
對中共而言，拉丁美洲不但是收集和美國有關的情報地方，而且是輸出毛澤東思想的理想所在。
1971年10月25日，中華人民共和國取代中華民國，在聯合國的席位後，積極耕耘拉丁美洲。巴拿馬位居拉美交通樞紐，又有運河貫通兩洋，是中共極力爭取的重中之重。
筆者於1979年10月底到達巴拿馬。幾乎每隔一段時間，就有工農大衆、勞工團體在國會廣場前示威喧擾，爭取與中華人民共和國建交。
其實，當年有不少西方學者專家披露，毛澤東思想與孫中山思想，有許多雷同之處。中共尊稱中華民國國父孫中山先生為革命的先行者，那麼追隨者自然是中國共産黨了。中華民國在台灣的學者專家們，顯然對這一點很少著墨。（4)
自新華社巴拿馬分社成立後，中國大陸頻頻派出民間團體，到巴拿馬進行友誼訪問。包括體育、民俗、藝文、學術、商展等等。
印象深刻的是，河北吳橋雜技團的公演，姿態的優美，演技的出神入化，讓僑胞及巴國人民，驚讚不已。
另外，獲得1980年全國甲級聯賽冠軍，以《快、準、狠》著稱的湖北男子籃球隊，與曾獲泛美運動會男子籃球冠軍的，巴拿馬國防軍籃球隊，進行友誼賽。雙方精湛的球技，戰況的激烈，讓觀眾看得直呼過癮。
1982年7月間，一支來自大陸沿海諸省市組成的商展團，在巴京國際會議中心展出工商産品。居然邀請到巴國工商部長剪綵，更誇張的是，場外升起五星紅旗，場內奏中華人民共和國國歌。
巴拿馬與紐約、倫敦、東京一般，具備國際金融中心地位。1980年代，外國銀行在巴拿馬，已經超過百間。上海滙豐銀行，1972年就進入巴拿馬。接續，1974年8月1日，中國國際商業銀行，在巴京設立分行，為中華民國在拉丁美洲境內的第一家銀行，為漸增的華人社區，提供了優質的金融服務。中國大陸也不遺餘力，1987年中國銀行(Bank of China)，在巴京設立分理處，1994年升格為分行。
20多年來，中國大陸在巴拿馬的金融機構，範圍涵蓋銀行、股票市場、保險及再保險公司、金融及租賃公司。（5)
民國70年(1981年)6月，巴拿馬執政黨民主革命黨，媚共色彩濃厚。中共副外長周南，兼程到達巴拿馬，洽談建交之可能。由於中華民國大使館及忠貞僑領因應得當，周南無功而返。隨後，中共對巴拿馬在建交策略運用上，改變方式。逐步採取經貿、文化、體育交流與巴拿馬頻繁接觸。
1986年初，巴拿馬大開門戶，大陸新僑洶湧而至，中共兼採國會外交。當時，最具影響力的華裔國會議員楊荷西，在傾共僑領斡旋下，此年8月，率領一支八人國會議員訪問團，訪問北京。同年9月，中華人民共和國人民代表大會六人訪問團，抵達巴拿馬報聘。1987年7月，巴拿馬國會再度組成十一人訪問團，前往北京，積極為中華人民共和國在巴拿馬設立據點舖路。
1996年2月，巴拿馬外交部同意中共委派先遣人員到達巴拿馬，預作成立辦事處之籌備工作。3月5日，中共外交部參贊居一杰，連同外經貿部兩名官員張善利、林力揚聯袂抵巴，隨即展開拜會工作，與巴國外交部進行開館協商。（6)
1996年9月23日巴拿馬外長阿里亞斯，在紐約聯合國總部與中共外長錢其琛會面，談話內容涉及中共駐巴拿馬貿易辦事處掛牌運作之事。至此，中共在巴拿馬成立代表機構已成定局。
隨後傾共僑團，頻頻作出一連串媚共舉措，先是組成10月1日中華人民共和國國慶籌備會，後有9月30日歡迎中共代表居一杰等人的餐會。兩家中文報紙《拉美快報》及《海外時報》，均作了詳細報導。中國國民黨輔導經營，有著近70年歷史，為僑喉舌的《共和報》，卻因財務拮据，虧損累累，於5月1日宣佈停刊。
1996年10月16日晩，中華人民共和國駐巴拿馬貿易發展辦事處正式掛牌運作。包括中華總會會長鍾震邦在內的各傾共僑團負責人，幾乎一面倒的出席了慶祝酒會。
該日，正值中華民國外交部次長程建人訪問巴拿馬，赴機場接機者僅有大使館官員及國民黨支部各委員。次日，程次長在下榻的凱撒飯店，招待各僑團主席午餐。出奇的是，出席中共辦事處開幕酒會的各媚共主席，全數到齊。忠貞於中華民國的僑領們見狀，真是五味雜陳。(7)
1989年12月20日，美國發動代號為《正義之師作戰》的巴拿馬戰爭，扶持恩達拉聯合政府上台，中華民國率先承認新政。恩達拉總統對中華民國一向友好，任內曾兩度訪問台北，外交採溫和路線，然而國內經濟不振，始終困擾恩達拉政府，造成諸多民怨。在野的民主革命黨趁機發動文宣攻勢，在民眾求新求變的心理下，1994年5月8日大選，巴雅達雷斯取得政權，民主革命黨再度執政。
1994年7月，巴雅達雷斯以總統當選人身分走訪北京，獲得中共總理李鵬及對外經貿部部長李嵐淸等人的接見。
1994年9月1日，巴雅達雷斯宣誓就任總統，中華民國李元簇副總統代表李登輝總統率團赴巴慶賀。巴雅達雷斯總統當日接見李副總統，兩人交談至為愉快近一小時，巴氏強調巴拿馬與中華民國的深厚友誼，將在既有良好的基礎上繼續發展。巴雅達雷斯左右逢源的心態，至為明顯。
1994年5月，巴拿馬大選後，僑社媚共僑團，心態浮現。中華總會第十三屆理監事改選，傾共僑團花縣同鄉會，運作成功，一舉攻下總會三分之一常務理監事席位，在競爭激烈的情況下，鍾震邦當選中華總會會長。(8)
清宣統元年(1909年)12月6日，清廷成立駐巴拿馬共和國總領事館。1912年2月12日，中華民國延續清廷與巴拿馬共和國的外交關係，至2017年6月，因巴拿馬轉向中華人民共和國，而中止。兩國友誼敦睦，達108年。
巴拿馬與中共建交，過程曲折，時間長達42年，《中國因素》是其主因。
翻閱中華民國與巴拿馬共和國的外交歴史，自1971年10月，中華民國退出聯合國前，一直很平順。之後，中華人民共和國的誘因，使得局面質變。
中華民國退出聯合國後，與巴拿馬共和國的雙邊合作協定，至斷交為止多達24項，涵蓋文化、貿易、農業技術、漁業技術、國際快遞、設置加出口區、投資待遇及保護、空中運輸、觀光、新聞等等。中華民國投資及援助巴拿馬共和國的金額，至少有美金210億之多。然而，最終乃然抵不過因《中國誘因》，巴拿馬與中華民國斷交。(9)
2017年7月12日，中華民國與巴拿馬斷交後一個月，巴拿馬外交部公告指出，與中華民國之間所簽訂的一切條約、協定、諒解備忘錄等文書，自巴拿馬承認中華人民共和國那天開始，失去法律効力。
截至2017年年底，中華民國的航運公司有68艘船隻，在巴拿馬註冊，為巴拿馬第五大權宜船來源國，其中45艘貨櫃輪為長榮海運所有。
長榮海運於民國86年(1997年）投資10億美元，完成了箇朗港專用碼頭。民國104年(2015年)12月，長榮第四號深水貨櫃碼頭竣工啟用。2018年7月，並不因巴拿馬與中華人民共和國建交，而中斷長榮海運專用碼頭第三期工程的開工。
相對的，中國大陸的和記黃埔港務公司，於1999年美國自巴拿馬運河撤離前，競標贏得巴拿馬運河兩端港口的管理權。當時美國的輿論聲稱，此舉必將危及美國的安全。(10）
2018年11月30日，二十國G20高峯會在阿根廷首都布宜諾斯艾利斯舉行，會後於12月2日，中華人民共和國習近平主席訪問巴拿馬，巴國總統巴雷拉聲稱是一次《前所未有的訪問》，簽署了20項商業、技術和基礎設施領域的合作協議，投資金額150億美元，包括最近三年來，耗資9億美元收購巴拿馬大西洋岸最大港口，運河入口處的瑪格麗特港，以及標得擴建中的巴京捷運系統。
簽署中的《希望之城》安居項目還包括國際會議中心及跨運河大橋的擴建。
巴拿馬公共工程部2018年7月宣佈，中華人民共和國與巴拿馬共和國建交後，中國港灣聯營體標得巴拿馬運河四橋擴建及興建工程，這將是未來幾年巴拿馬乃至中美洲最受關注的重點工程。
巴拿馬運河四大橋：其一，世紀大橋(擴闊)，連接運河西岸阿拉罕和東岸塞洛帕達康。其二，美洲大橋(擴闊)，是巴拿馬的一座公路橋，橫跨太平洋的巴拿馬運河入口處，大橋為桁架拱橋設計，全長1654米，大橋最高點距離海平面117米。其三，通河三橋(正在施工中），總長約1萬2千米，是巴拿馬運河上大西洋側的第一座大橋，世界上最大跨徑混凝土斜拉橋之一。其四，運河四橋(將建)，是一座公路鐵路兩用斜拉橋，長510米，寛51米，高75米，與美洲大橋擴建後的8條車道，形成一條〈北部走廊〉。(11）
國際貨幣基金組織公佈的2017年各國人均GDP，中華民國臺灣地區為24292美元，排名33。巴拿馬15089美元，排名53。都超過中國大陸的8643美元，排名72。對此國際媒體無不感慨，認為中國大陸對巴拿馬如此慷慨大撒錢的主要原因，應是巴拿馬的地緣政治佔了優勢。
路透社及美國之音披露：對中華人民共和國而言，建交後的巴拿馬，將成為其在拉丁美洲國家中，重要的外交和經濟支點，甚至追趕美國在此一地區的影響力至少能夠成為中美兩國關係中的一個《潛在的談判籌碼》。
今年10月，美國國務卿彭佩奧訪問巴拿馬時，就警告巴拿馬總統巴雷拉，和中國做生意要當心，因中國國企正在從事《掠奪性的經濟活動》。
該媒體進一步指出，中美兩大國在巴拿馬的這場爭持，將使中美洲成為自冷戰以來，超級大國之間影響力的代理戰場。其次，巴拿馬是近年來與台灣斷交與中國大陸建交的國家之一，其根本邏輯便是中國挾其巨額金援與國際影響力對巴拿馬的利誘。北京為延續對台灣的斷交潮，必將持續對這些新建交國挹注重金，方能進一步箝制台灣的國際空間。
台灣團結聯盟指出，巴拿馬與中華民國斷交前一個月，仍然支付了巴拿馬，多項合作計劃美金290萬元。這筆錢的支付，實在太不值得，給了我們一些想像空間。(12)
歐美輿論所指，巴拿馬將成為中華人民共和國在拉丁美洲國家《重要的外交和經濟支點》，以及美國國務卿彭佩奧所說的，中國國企正在巴拿馬從事《掠奪性的經濟活動》的説法，在巴拿馬的華人及華僑，有著不同的看法。
一位90年代末期，到達巴拿馬的王姓大陸新僑表示，崛起的中國，大手筆投資巴拿馬建設，使一帶一路在巴拿馬有了拉美海上支點，此舉必將提升華僑、華人在巴拿馬的社會地位。
一位在巴拿馬土生土長的陳姓華人，卻有另一種看法，他舉斯里蘭卡、馬來西亞的例子，認為巴拿馬未必受惠，反受其害。
另一位資深台商表示，紐約時報及華盛頓郵報均有報導稱，美國政界及商界已有聲音，中美貿易大戰之後，美國對中國已由競爭對手變為敵人，中國的勢力範圍已進入美國後院，未來幾年美國必將在南海、台海掀起風浪，以求全球戰略平衡，南海、台海紛爭動亂跟隨而來。(13，本篇完)
Parts of this introduction that were in Chinese were translated by AI (Claude) in November 2026. Not yet reviewed by the author.
Translated from the Chinese by AI (Claude) in November 2026. Not yet reviewed by the author. The three PDFs lost 81 characters their font couldn’t show; they were filled in from context before translating.
Contents目錄目录 (5)
The Honking of Migrant Wild Geese (羈旅雁鳴) (continued)
Chapter Two: Scenes from Panama
Essay 16: A Gathering That
Brought Overseas Chinese Hearts Together
Let me take you back to September 1992 (year 81 of the Republic), more than twenty-six years ago now (2018). Compared with the situation of the Republic of China on Taiwan today, it is painful to look back, and my feelings are many.
From September 10 to 12, 1992, the Federation of Chinese Associations of Six Central American Countries held its 27th annual meeting and 21st kinship convention at the Chiang Kai-shek Gymnasium of the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center in Panama City. My wife Wu Xiulian and I helped with the administrative work from start to finish. I was glad to serve the overseas Chinese community and to see a warm and united gathering that turned out a real success. The memories are still fresh, and they give me great comfort.
The Federation of Chinese Associations of Six Central American Countries was founded in El Salvador on January 20, 1966 (year 55 of the Republic). Its members are the Chinese associations of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Each year an annual meeting and a kinship convention are held in the member country whose turn it is. Over the years, wars in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Panama forced the convention to be cancelled six times.
The Federation and its kinship convention were founded to strengthen unity among the overseas Chinese of the six countries and promote the joint development of their commerce, industry and agriculture. They also aimed to advance cultural and educational work, give the overseas Chinese a firm footing in their countries of residence, and raise their social and political standing. Together they would support the government of the Republic of China in completing the great task of national unification. (1)
The Federation and its kinship convention were the first regional alliance of overseas Chinese founded on any of the five continents, and they have now lasted fifty-three years. The annual meetings have never been interrupted, not by the frequent wars in Central America, and not when the Republic of China's allies Costa Rica (June 7, 2007), Panama (June 13, 2017) and El Salvador (August 21, 2018) one after another recognized the People's Republic of China.
Chang Fu-mei, chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission under Chen Shui-bian (term: May 20, 2000 to May 19, 2008), promoted the "three classes of overseas Chinese" theory (僑胞三等論) as soon as she took office. Its argument that overseas Taiwanese came first drew strong condemnation from the traditional overseas Chinese communities. Yet the traditional communities of this region held to their original commitment and their love for the Republic of China founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
This year (2018), from September 2 to September 4, the Federation held its 53rd annual meeting in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. Representatives of the six countries gathered together. In fifty-three years the meetings have never once been interrupted, which shows the unity and patriotism of the overseas Chinese of Central America. It is truly admirable.
During the meeting, the Republic of China embassy in Honduras issued a press release (it can be found online). It said that Lü Yuanrong, vice-chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, had made a special trip to Honduras to meet with community representatives from each country and with Taiwanese businesspeople living in Honduras. He also visited the Republic of China Plaza in Tegucigalpa and the Confucius Park inside Picacho National Park, and took in the sights of the capital.
Reading that report left me chilled, dejected and helpless. Let me look back at the 27th annual meeting and 21st kinship convention held in Panama twenty-six years ago. Comparing the two stirs up many feelings. (2)
At 8 p.m. on September 10, 1992, the opening ceremony of the Federation's 27th annual meeting and 21st kinship convention was held at the Chiang Kai-shek Gymnasium of the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center. The gymnasium holds four thousand people, and every seat on the floor and in the stands was taken. Before the ceremony, leading figures of both countries filled the VIP lounge. There were Panama's two vice presidents, Ricardo Arias Calderón and Guillermo Ford, nine cabinet ministers, five vice ministers and three members of the National Assembly. From our side there were Su Bingzhao, the Republic of China's ambassador to Panama; Tseng Kwang-shun, chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission; Zhong Hubin, director of the Kuomintang's Department of Overseas Affairs; and Zeng Fumei, the overseas-elected legislator. Chen Fengtian and Lu Zhantao, the two permanent honorary presidents of the Chinese Association of Panama, were there too, along with the presidents of the Chinese associations of the Central American countries. Close to forty people exchanged greetings and chatted freely. During the conversation, Vice President Ford told Chairman Tseng and the others that the two countries had enjoyed friendly relations for nearly a hundred years, and that the support of the overseas Chinese for the Republic of China was a major reason. Ford praised the hard work of Panama's Chinese and their contributions to Panama. (3)
At the opening ceremony, President Chen Fengtian gave the address of welcome as head of the host country's overseas Chinese. He said that the 1980s had been Taiwan's golden decade. In March of the year before last (1990), the Republic of China's foreign exchange reserves had passed US$72 billion, the highest in the world. Its per capita income was also the highest in Asia apart from Japan. "We overseas Chinese of the six Central American countries share in this glory and take pride in it," he said. Each year the community associations' annual meeting and kinship convention grew livelier than the year before. He wished the visitors from every country the finest and most memorable time in Panama.
Chairman Tseng also read a message of congratulations on behalf of President Lee Teng-hui. It urged the community's distinguished members to share their wisdom and experience, help with the Republic of China's many development projects, and work together for the community's welfare.
Chairman Tseng also reported on how he and the representatives of the overseas Chinese from each country had called on President Endara that morning. President Endara was very pleased. He recalled leading a delegation to Taipei four months earlier for President Lee Teng-hui's inauguration, and spoke of the deep and lasting good impression the visit had left on him. (4)
Panama's First Vice President Arias was also invited to speak. He warmly welcomed the overseas Chinese representatives from every country to Panama and stressed that the friendship between Panama and the Republic of China would last forever. Panama had always held, he said, that the free, democratic and prosperous Republic of China shared exactly the founding ideals and goals of the Republic of Panama.
That evening the program ran alongside the banquet: traditional Panamanian dance, Cantonese opera, folk songs, a dance and more. Representatives from each country showed off their own talents too. The whole audience was full of enthusiasm, and the evening left a deep impression.
On the second day, September 11, the community association representatives of the six countries met in the conference hall of the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center. They discussed more than thirty items one by one, and the officials from Taiwan attended to offer guidance.
The visitors at the kinship convention went sightseeing in two groups. One went to Panamá Viejo and Parque de Monte Lago. The other went to the Colón Free Trade Zone to buy duty-free goods. The overseas Chinese from every country thanked the host, the Chinese Association of Panama, for its careful arrangements and its staff for their warm service, and said they would never forget them. (5)
After intensive discussion, the meeting of the six countries' associations resolved to help bring along the younger generation and nurture new talent. It would recruit people of ability and good character into community work, take part in public affairs in their countries of residence, encourage people to run for public office, and advance the rights and interests of the overseas Chinese. Besides being sent to the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission for its reference, the resolutions were read out in summary at the closing ceremony of the annual meeting.
The closing ceremony of the annual meeting was held at 7 p.m. on the 11th at the Chiang Kai-shek Gymnasium of the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center. A joint declaration was read out, pledging to unite the strength of all the overseas Chinese in active support of the Guidelines for National Unification (國家統一綱領) adopted by the government of the Republic of China and of the conclusions of the associations' meeting. Telegrams of respect were sent to President Lee Teng-hui and Premier Hau Pei-tsun. Awards were also presented to representatives of good people and good deeds from each country, to model mothers, and to young people who had served with dedication.
At the closing ceremony, Ambassador Su Bingzhao, Chairman Tseng Kwang-shun, Director Zhong Hubin and the overseas-elected legislator Zeng Fumei each spoke in turn. Chen Fengtian, permanent honorary president of the Chinese Association of Panama, and its president He Linsheng then spoke. They thanked the visitors from every country for attending the great event, and thanked the officials from Taiwan from the heart for travelling so far to join it and lift the morale of the overseas Chinese.
The officials from Taiwan expressed their admiration for the convention's complete success. They said it showed the six countries' overseas Chinese united in support of the government of the Republic of China and firm in the stand that China should be unified under the Three Principles of the People.
The closing ceremony ended after nearly two hours, followed by a string of entertainments. Not until one in the morning did the visitors, having enjoyed themselves to the full, gradually leave, wishing one another well and saying, "See you next year." (6)
During the annual meeting, the teachers and students of the Sun Yat-sen School at the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center wanted to welcome the overseas Chinese from every country and the officials from Taiwan. The whole school turned out to tidy up the campus. A month before, they had also begun preparing an exhibition of their work in Chinese language teaching. It included compositions, calligraphy, fountain-pen writing, Chinese painting, wall posters, arts and crafts, Chinese knots and more. It was a dazzling display, more beautiful than one could take in.
Two of the wall posters were especially finely made, the fruit of the teachers' and students' hard work and ingenuity. They presented articles and photographs of Chairman Tseng and Director Zhong over the years, travelling to overseas Chinese communities abroad and meeting with the people there. The writing was concise and the pictures lively. The overseas Chinese from every country praised the Sun Yat-sen School highly for its rigorous Chinese teaching, its excellent teachers and its eager students.
To let everyone relax, the third day's program was split into two groups, and people could choose either. One group toured the canal. The other took part in an event named the "Hubin Cup Golf Tournament" (湖濱杯高爾夫球賽).
The Panama Canal group was the largest and filled six tour buses. The Panama Canal Commission made special arrangements for the visitors to enter the lock control room and watch how ships are taken through the locks. Afterwards they took a boat through the "Snake Bend Channel" (蛇彎渠道), the loveliest stretch of Gatun Lake. A string of small islands lies in the lake, home to many rare birds and to tropical rainforest plants of national-treasure rank. Passing the islands, one could hear clear, sweet birdsong. The visitors thoroughly enjoyed the outing.
The golf course covered about 20,000 ping (some 66,000 square meters) on the shore of a lake on the outskirts of Panama City, a course of international standard. The Kuomintang's Panama branch arranged the tournament. Besides Director Zhong Hubin and his wife, the players included members of Panama's Hanguang golf team and Costa Rica's Huaguang golf team. Between swings, they also took in the beauty of the lake and hills. (7)
After the closing ceremony of the annual meeting and kinship convention came the Miss Overseas Chinese contest of the six Central American countries. It took up the last two hours and finished before midnight. But the visitors from every country and the local overseas Chinese were so full of enthusiasm that the whole hall kept celebrating until the small hours of the morning.
Ms. Sun Tieying (孫鐵映), the wife of Director Zhong (鍾主任), a woman of deep learning who speaks fluent Spanish and English, was invited by the convention to serve as one of the five judges. Besides performing the folk dances of the countries where they live, the contestants from each country walked across the stage in qipao, showed their talents, and answered impromptu questions. In her remarks Ms. Sun noted that the overseas Chinese young women of the Central American countries were lovely and charming, and outstanding in poise, talent, quick wit and the ability to express themselves. The judges could pick the winners only by the slimmest of margins. She also pointed out that beauty is truly hard to measure by any exact standard. She said "confidence is beauty," which surely gave beauty its best definition.
The 1992 annual meeting and kinship convention of the six countries' community associations, carefully planned by the host, the Chinese Association of Panama, drew eager participation from our fellow Chinese of every country, who enjoyed themselves to the full. The convention closed in a spirit of success, beauty, warmth and unity.
This year (2018), the turn to host this six-country gathering, which binds the hearts of the overseas Chinese, came round to Panama again. Unfortunately, because the Republic of Panama switched its recognition to the People's Republic of China last June, the community leaders, swayed by ideology, had no wish to carry it on. Nicaragua still maintains diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, but it too declined to take it over, citing political unrest. In the end the turn passed to Honduras, which stepped in at a difficult moment and held only the annual meeting, without the kinship convention. Given the present political climate between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, that was a rare achievement.
By rights, this organization, the first regional federation of overseas Chinese founded anywhere in the world, which binds the hearts of the overseas Chinese and unites their communities, should not stop meeting for political reasons. On the contrary, it ought to make its activities even livelier and more vibrant.
Consider what happened on the day after Panama announced its recognition of the People's Republic of China (June 13, 2017): the Republic of China flag on the plaque above the gate of the Sun Yat-sen School at the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center was taken down at once (even though the Panamanian government has, to this day, not forbidden Chinese associations and schools to fly the Republic of China flag). It leaves us with all too many thoughts, and the hope of peaceful reunification of the two sides will surely be delayed. We must search our hearts and ask what we did wrong. (8, end of this essay)
Essay 17: Deep and Heartfelt
Every Word Was Moving
On September 1, 1994 (year 83 of the Republic), Ernesto Pérez Balladares was inaugurated as President of the Republic of Panama (term: September 1, 1994, to September 1, 1999). Li Yuan-tsu (李元簇), the eighth Vice President of the Republic of China (term: May 20, 1990, to May 19, 1996), led a delegation to offer congratulations.
On the evening of August 30, three hours before the delegation arrived in Panama City, more than 600 fellow overseas Chinese living in Panama had already gathered at the Longfeng Restaurant in Panama City. There they held a grand banquet to welcome Vice President Li and the members of the special mission, as a token of their deepest respect. (1)
The banquet hall was fully decorated before 6 p.m. More than four hundred small silk flags of the ROC and Panama hung in strings into every corner. Across the front of the hall stretched a banner 6 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, bearing in white characters on red: "Banquet of All the Overseas Chinese of Panama Welcoming Dr. Li Yuan-tsu, Vice President of the Republic of China," with a huge ROC flag and a huge Panamanian flag on either side. On the two side walls hung the slogans "Unify China under Freedom, Democracy and Equitable Prosperity" and "Unite the Overseas Chinese Community through Diligence, Mutual Help and Harmony." With the lighting effects added, the whole hall glowed with festive joy.
By 8 p.m. every seat in the hall was taken. The permanent honorary presidents of the Chinese Association, Chen Fengtian (陳奉天) and Lu Zhantao (盧湛濤), the president, He Linsheng (何麟生), and the chairmen of the various community associations stood in line at the front of the hall to receive the guests. At 8:15, escorted and led by a police motorcycle squad, Vice President Li arrived, accompanied by Ambassador Su Bingzhao (蘇秉照) and more than 30 members of his delegation.
A military band struck up a welcome and firecrackers were set off, while the lion dance troupe of the Huaxian (Fa Yuen) Association welcomed him with a lion dance to a thunder of gongs and drums. As Vice President Li entered the hall, all the fellow overseas Chinese rose to their feet in warm applause, and he smiled and returned their greetings again and again. At the same time traditional Chinese pieces such as "Joy Throughout the Land" (薄海騰歡) and "Dragon Soaring, Phoenix Dancing" (龍翔鳳舞) were played, filling the hall with festive harmony. (2)
The banquet opened with a speech of welcome by He Linsheng, president of the Chinese Association. He expressed heartfelt admiration and gratitude to Vice President Li for leading a delegation all the way to Panama, enduring the hardships of the long journey, to congratulate the Panamanian president on his inauguration and to bring comfort and greetings to the overseas Chinese living in Panama. He also praised Vice President Li's outstanding achievements, since he entered public life, in carrying forward the constitutional reforms of the Republic of China.
Vice President Li then gave a deeply heartfelt talk to the Chinese and foreign guests present.
Vice President Li said that when a person leaves his home and comes to a strange country, the people he is gladdest and happiest to see are his own family. He said: Today, the moment I stepped off the plane, I saw so many of our community leaders and so many children from the Sun Yat-sen School holding our national flag, and I was very, very moved, and very, very happy.
Vice President Li went on: When I was little, a thought that often came to my mind was that I wondered when I would ever get the chance to see the Panama Canal, which links two oceans. He added: Three years ago, in 1991 (year 80 of the Republic), I visited three Central American countries, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua, and at that time I hoped to visit nearby Panama as well. But I had already spent too long in those three countries, and official business at home was waiting urgently, so my wish was not fulfilled. Today, though, I have come to Panama, and I am especially happy to realize, on my life's journey, a dream I had as a child. (3)
Vice President Li said that some 140 years ago our ancestors crossed the oceans to come here to build the Panama Railroad, and so made a great contribution to Panama. At the beginning of this century (the 20th century), overseas Chinese also took part in the arduous work of cutting the canal. Today the fellow overseas Chinese living in Panama make even greater contributions to building the country. Our compatriots have also won a high standing in Panamanian society. Among those present, for instance, are Mr. Zheng Daohua (鄭道華), Panama's comptroller general, the equivalent of the head of the Republic of China's National Audit Office, and the newly elected legislator Ms. Yang Keliya (楊柯麗雅). Beyond that, Panamanian society has well-known university professors and lawyers of Chinese descent, and many leaders of business and industry.
In his view, the friendship between the ROC and Panama is so firm for more than one reason, and the most important of them is the many contributions the overseas Chinese living in Panama have made to the country. The overseas Chinese hold a high place in Panamanian society and are respected by the Panamanian people, and that is why the friendship between our two countries is so solid. On behalf of our nation, I thank the overseas Chinese in Panama.
As soon as Vice President Li arrived in Panama, the Minister of Communications, Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄), and Panama's Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Raúl Mulino, jointly signed an air transport agreement between the ROC and Panama right there at the airport.
At the banquet Vice President Li pointed out that with this air transport agreement, although the geographical distance between the two countries has not changed, in terms of time our planes will be able to fly directly to Panama in the future, and Panamanian planes will be able to fly to our country. The distance between the two countries has therefore shrunk, and relations between them will grow closer as a result. Not only can we strengthen trade; tourism and exchanges will benefit too, and those of you here who want to return to your own country to visit family, relatives and friends will surely find it easier. I want to thank the colleagues concerned at our Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their efforts, and to thank the Panamanian government for its cooperation.
A few months later, the ROC's EVA Air opened a route from Taipei via Los Angeles direct to Panama. The overseas Chinese no longer had to detour through Europe and Hong Kong to visit their families in their home villages on the mainland. They could go straight to Taipei, change there for Hong Kong and enter the mainland, saving both money and time, a great convenience for our fellow overseas Chinese. (4)
Vice President Li also said: The overseas Chinese have always spared no effort in supporting the government, so I wish to reaffirm in particular that the government will work even harder to look after our compatriots overseas, strengthen its ties with and services to the overseas Chinese communities, help develop their businesses, and promote Chinese cultural and educational work among them. I hope that all our compatriots overseas will join hearts and hands and work together for the revival of the Chinese nation.
Vice President Li continued: Among the overseas Chinese community in Panama, the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center has made a very great contribution to cultural exchange between the ROC and Panama, and I would like to take this opportunity to offer a small token of my regard.
Vice President Li handed a check for US$100,000 to Chen Fengtian, chairman of the board of the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center, for the Center's development fund. Chen Fengtian announced it at once in Cantonese, and the whole hall broke into warm applause.
At the end of his speech, Vice President Li added, with great humor: At a meal, what people dread most is someone giving a speech that goes on too much and too long. But today I have not only said a lot, I have also gone on long. That is because this is my first time in Panama and my first time seeing all of you, my compatriots, and I am truly so happy that I have said so much for so long. Still, I can't take all the blame myself: our Deputy Director-General Hou Qingshan (侯淸山) took up half the time translating into Spanish, so now the two of us share the responsibility. That set off another round of laughter.
But Vice President Li was not quite finished. He said he had almost forgotten something: before he left, President Lee Teng-hui had told him that he must convey to the overseas Chinese here how fondly he remembered them. Nine years earlier, when Lee Teng-hui visited Panama as vice president, the overseas Chinese had given him a warm welcome that touched him deeply. He still remembered it fondly, and had asked Vice President Li especially to convey his thanks. Finally, wishing everyone good health and success in their work, and the overseas Chinese community of Panama unity and cooperation, Vice President Li concluded his deeply heartfelt speech.
During the dinner, accompanied by Ambassador Su Bingzhao, Chen Fengtian and other community leaders, Vice President Li went from table to table to toast our fellow overseas Chinese. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude in particular to old Mrs. Zheng, aged 93, and old Mr. Zhang, 85 and unsteady on his feet, both of whom had come specially from the interior of the country for the occasion, supported by their children and grandchildren. (5)
The next day, Wednesday, August 31, at 8 a.m., Vice President Li and his party, together with the delegations of other countries, went to Panama's Presidential Office to meet outgoing President Guillermo Endara and President-elect Ernesto Pérez Balladares. Vice President Li was the national leader from the country farthest from Panama, and both presidents expressed their heartfelt thanks to him for leading a delegation all that way.
Shortly before ten in the morning, Vice President Li, accompanied by Ambassador Su, came to the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center, where the chairmen of the community associations and more than a hundred representatives of the teachers and pupils of the Sun Yat-sen School met him at the entrance. Vice President Li warmly shook hands with the community leaders, teachers and pupils, and had a commemorative photo taken with the association chairmen in front of the school gate.
At ten o'clock he walked out to the large sports ground and held a flag-raising ceremony with all the teachers and pupils. Chairman Chen Fengtian, on the left, raised the flag of the Republic of Panama as its national anthem was played. Vice President Li, on the right, raised the flag of the Republic of China, and as all the teachers, pupils and community leaders sang the national anthem of the Republic of China together, the flag slowly rose and fluttered in the wind.
Then, accompanied by Chen Fengtian, Lu Zhantao, He Linsheng and other community leaders, he went into the great hall on the second floor and held a discussion with the association chairmen and teachers' representatives, exchanging views on cultural exchange between the ROC and Panama and on Chinese-language teaching. The Chinese teachers spoke up eagerly, and Vice President Li nodded his approval again and again. The teachers vied with one another to have their photos taken with him. Afterwards he toured the library, the Chiang Kai-shek Gymnasium and the Center's other facilities. Vice President Li encouraged the community's elders to make full use of the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center and to contribute to Panamanian society.
Vice President Li also planted a tree to the right of the bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek to mark the occasion. The entire visit was suffused with deep and heartfelt affection. (6)
After Vice President Li Yuan-tsu left office on May 19, 1996 (year 85 of the Republic), he withdrew from the noise of the world and took no part in politics. He lived in seclusion in the countryside of Toufen, Miaoli, for twenty years, devoting himself to the study of Buddhism and living a quiet, simple and incorruptible life. We never heard his voice again; what we heard instead was the news that he had passed away. Scholars of law and figures in education and culture in Taiwan summed up his life most fittingly: "Wisdom seen in silence, integrity seen in uprightness" (無聲中見智慧，剛直中見志節).
Vice President Li (September 24, 1923 – March 8, 2017) held a doctorate in law from the University of Bonn in Germany. He served in turn as a judge, president of National Chengchi University, Minister of Education, Minister of Justice and Secretary-General of the Presidential Office. In remembrance of this elder who devoted his whole life to Taiwan, loved Taiwan and loved his fellow overseas Chinese: "the wise man has withered away" (哲人其萎). I offer him my deepest respect. (7; end of this chapter)
Essay 18: A Gathering for
Mobilizing Support
On January 13, 1988 (year 77 of the Republic), Chiang Ching-kuo, the seventh president of the Republic of China, died in office (his term ran from May 20, 1984 to May 19, 1990), and Vice President Lee Teng-hui succeeded him as president.
The government of the Republic of China responded to calls for democratization in Taiwan and to the political trend toward localization. In 1991 (year 80 of the Republic), when Lee Teng-hui was serving as the eighth president (his term ran from May 20, 1990 to May 19, 1996), the Constitution of the Republic of China was amended for the first time with the addition of the Additional Articles of the Constitution (中華民國憲法增修條文). During his time in office the Constitution was amended six times.
In July 1994 (year 83 of the Republic), the third round of amendments established that the president and vice president would be directly elected by the people.
On May 20, 1996, under these Additional Articles, Lee Teng-hui and Lien Chan took office as the ninth president and vice president, the first to be directly elected by the people (for a four-year term, May 20, 1996 to May 19, 2000). (1)
The Republic of China's first direct presidential election in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (voting took place on March 23, 1996) was fiercely contested by four tickets: Lee Teng-hui and Lien Chan of the Kuomintang, Peng Ming-min and Frank Hsieh of the Democratic Progressive Party, Lin Yang-kang and Hau Pei-tsun of the New Party, and the independent candidates Chen Li-an and Wang Ching-feng.
In the political climate of the time, Lee Teng-hui support committees and Friends of Lee Teng-hui associations sprang up overseas, and they became the greatest source of support for the Lee–Lien campaign. After the election, Friends of President Lee Teng-hui fellowship associations were set up in many places as well.
In September 1996, the annual meeting and kinship convention of the overseas Chinese associations of the six Central American countries was held in Costa Rica. At the meeting, Zhong Zhenbang (鍾震邦), president of the Chinese Association of Panama, objected on the spot to the proposal to establish Friends of President Lee Teng-hui fellowship associations. In his view, Lee and Lien had been elected and taken office without mishap, so the support committees and friends associations had fully accomplished their mission and could be dissolved. There was no need to form yet another fellowship association and build a personality cult. Zhong Zhenbang's view was not accepted, and Friends of President Lee Teng-hui fellowship associations were set up in one country after another. (2)
After the Costa Rica meeting of the six countries' overseas Chinese associations, the overseas Chinese community in Panama did not set up a fellowship association. It kept the Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Association of Panama, which continued its work.
In 1996 came the Taiwan Strait crisis (July 1995 to March 1996), set off by Lee Teng-hui's visit to the United States in 1995. After the June Fourth movement of 1989, the United States no longer courted the Chinese Communists as a counterweight to the Soviet Union. With the upheaval in Eastern Europe in early 1990 and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States turned instead to courting the Republic of China on Taiwan as a counterweight to the Chinese Communists.
In March 1996, while the Republic of China was holding its direct presidential election in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, Beijing broke through the obstacles to its strategy of setting up an office in Panama as a step toward full diplomatic relations. On October 16 of that year the office officially opened. From then on, the People's Republic of China had a base in Panama for its united-front activities in diplomacy, trade and overseas Chinese affairs.
From January to March 1997, the pro-Beijing community leaders and community associations in Panama openly showed their eagerness to please the Chinese Communists and worked actively with the office. First, they attacked community leaders and associations loyal to the Republic of China. Second, they staged a series of celebrations for the return of Hong Kong on July 1. Third, they helped the office develop its relations with Panama. Fourth, they undermined the bond between the Republic of China embassy and the overseas Chinese (they manufactured the affair of the embassy's third secretary, Liu Luhong (劉魯宏), to sow discord in the close relationship between the embassy and the community, which brought about the so-called "March storm" and for a time made overseas Chinese affairs work very tense). Fifth, they tried to obstruct President Lee's attendance at the Universal Congress of the Panama Canal in early September.
In this grave situation, members of the Friends of President Lee Teng-hui associations and of the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce around the world proposed that, during the Universal Congress of the Panama Canal (September 5–9, 1997), the members of both organizations from all over the world should gather in Panama. There they would found the World Federation of Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Associations and hold the first World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce Annual Meeting, pledging their firm support for President Lee Teng-hui. (3)
In April 1997 (year 86 of the Republic), the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission and the KMT Department of Overseas Affairs sent letters to the embassy and to the Office of the KMT Special Commissioner for Central and South America respectively. They wrote that while President Lee Teng-hui was attending the Universal Congress of the Panama Canal in September, member representatives of the friends associations and the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce from around the world would gather in Panama, and they asked them to support the organizers and help carry out the various activities, in the hope that everything would be a complete success.
The embassy and the party office exchanged views on the preparations for the founding convention of the World Federation of Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Associations and for the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce Annual Meeting. They decided that the two organizations would hold their activities separately, and they reported this in writing to the OCAC and to KMT headquarters. The World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce Annual Meeting would be led by the embassy's overseas Chinese affairs secretary, Deng Yixiong (鄧毅雄), who would support the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of Panama in organizing it (his predecessor as overseas Chinese affairs secretary, Wu Guangding (吳光定), had been transferred back to the OCAC in June 1996). For the founding convention of the World Federation of Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Associations, the KMT Department of Overseas Affairs would help the Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Association of Panama carry out all the preparatory work. (4)
In mid-April, the Preparatory Committee for the Founding Convention of the World Federation of Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Associations was convened by Wu Chaoyu (吳朝昱), the Kuomintang's special commissioner for Central and South America. He called together the committee members of the KMT's Panama branch and invited nearly twenty community leaders and Chinese-language teachers from the Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Association of Panama and from the Sun Yat-sen School at the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center to discuss the preparations.
In late April the work got fully under way. We first visited the five-star hotels of Panama City, including the National Theatre of Panama, to choose one as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies and the meetings. In the end we chose the Hotel Miramar on Avenida Balboa along the Gulf of Panama, which had opened for business not long before.
The delegates would stay at the Hotel El Panama on Vía España, where Premier Sun Yun-suan had stayed during his visit to Panama in September 1980.
Breakfast every day would be at the Hotel El Panama, lunch at several Chinese restaurants nearby, and the evening banquets at the Hotel Miramar, the Chiang Kai-shek Gymnasium of the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center and the International Restaurant.
Following the decisions of the Preparatory Committee's meetings, the party office's secretary, Chen Xoung-Chi (陳昌智), wrote the Activities Guide for the Founding Convention of the World Federation of Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Associations (世界李登輝總統之友會聯合總會成立大會活動須知), a 24-page booklet of 6,000 characters, for the members' reference. (5)
While I was compiling the Activities Guide for the Founding Convention, I was told to add nine advisers to the federation. They were: 1. Wu Poh-hsiung, then secretary general of the Kuomintang. 2. Hsu Shui-teh, president of the Examination Yuan. 3. Lai Kuo-chou, a university professor and the husband of President Lee's second daughter, Lee An-ni. 4. John Chang, Minister of Foreign Affairs. 5. Chu Chi-ying, chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission. 6. Wang Nengzhang (王能章), director of the KMT Department of Overseas Affairs. 7. Hsu Sheng-fa, chairman of the Chinese National Federation of Industries. 8. Kao Chin-yen, chairman of Uni-President Enterprises. 9. Huang Sanrong (黃三榮), a university professor.
The work was divided among these groups: 1. Transport group leader: Zhong Haoliang (鍾浩良). 2. Activities group leader: Liu Qiulin (劉秋林). 3. Reception group leader: Wu Xiulian (吳秀蓮). 4. General affairs group leader: Mo Peiwei (莫培偉). 5. Catering group leader: Zhang Zhaozhen (張招珍). 6. Liaison group leader: Zhang Yuzhen (張郁貞). 7. Vehicle dispatch: Zheng Lüran (鄭綠然). 8. Five attendants to ride on the tour buses: Liu Weike (劉偉科), Zhang Shaojuan (張少娟), Wu Weizan (吳偉贊), Wu Yixian (吳毅賢) and Hou Yuhui (侯玉輝), all fluent in Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese.
The secretary-general of the Preparatory Committee was Huang Guochang (黃國昌), a standing committee member of the KMT US Southwest branch. The five secretaries were: 1. Wu Chaoyu. 2. Wang Zhuyi (王竹猗) (KMT Department of Overseas Affairs). 3. Fang Fen (方芬) (KMT US Southwest branch). 4. Jiang Fangrui (江芳鋭) (KMT US Southwest branch). 5. Chen Xoung-Chi.
Throughout the event, all the staff worked tirelessly and carried out their tasks to the full, and they won high praise from the members of the friends associations from the various countries. But there was also some criticism. One Panamanian community leader said bluntly that engaging Lee Teng-hui's son-in-law Lai Kuo-chou as an adviser to the federation looked rather like flattery and bootlicking. (6)
In September 1994, Vice President Li Yuan-tsu of the Republic of China led a delegation to celebrate the inauguration of President Ernesto Pérez Balladares of Panama (also rendered in Chinese as 巴利亞達雷斯, Ernesto Balladares). President Pérez Balladares invited President Lee Teng-hui to visit Panama at a date of his choosing.
Two years later, the 51st session of the United Nations General Assembly resolved to hold the Universal Congress of the Panama Canal in Panama in September 1997. In February, the Panamanian government invited the leaders of both sides of the Strait to attend, which drew a harsh denunciation from Beijing. Because President Pérez Balladares refused to withdraw his invitation to President Lee Teng-hui, the dispute nearly led to the cancellation of the Universal Congress of the Panama Canal.
Yin Tsung-wen, then director of the Republic of China's National Security Bureau, shuttled between Taiwan and Panama as President Lee's special envoy to coordinate and keep in contact, and the United States mediated as well. In the end, the United Nations adopted a compromise, announcing on August 21, 1997 that the United Nations and its agencies would not formally attend the Universal Congress of the Panama Canal. This is how, in September 1997, President Lee and his wife came to lead a delegation of 106 people to Panama, launching the head-of-state diplomatic offensive known as the "Journey of Peace." Only the heads of state of several of the Republic of China's diplomatic allies in Central America attended the congress, yet it cost as much as US$140 million.
Although the Universal Congress of the Panama Canal had a troubled fate, the preparations for the founding convention of the World Federation of Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Associations and for the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce meeting went ahead as originally planned. After all, this was the first visit by a head of state of the Republic of China to the Republic of Panama. (7)
On Wednesday, September 3, the Preparatory Committee held its final briefing, chaired jointly by Special Commissioner Wu Chaoyu and Secretary-General Huang Guochang, an OCAC commissioner. All the work was ready.
That afternoon, the reception group finished setting up the service desk in the ground-floor lobby of the Hotel El Panama.
At 6 p.m., ready to welcome the first group of members, the ten-person transport group took up their positions around the international airport. At the aircraft door they held up conspicuous signs to greet the guests, helped them through customs quickly and to collect their luggage, and saw them onto the shuttle vehicles to the hotel.
The first to arrive was the Hong Kong and Macau Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Association. Less than an hour after stepping off the plane they were at the hotel, at least fifty minutes faster than usual.
The Preparatory Committee had prepared a register of members, with columns for each member's name in Chinese and English, organization, title, identification badge number, hotel room number, information packet number and remarks. It was laid out with perfect clarity and served as the key reference for running the activities.
Members arriving at the hotel went first to the service desk, where their identity was checked and they received their information packets. On the back of the member's badge in each packet were the room number and the number of the bus the member would ride during the event. With the badge, members collected their room keys at the hotel front desk. The procedure was quick and convenient, and the guests felt right at home.
In every room there was a flower basket from the Preparatory Committee and a basket of seasonal fruit from Wang Nengzhang, director of the Department of Overseas Affairs. (8)
The first organization checked in at 7 p.m. on September 3, and the last member moved into the hotel at 5 a.m. on September 5. For thirty-four consecutive hours, the work at the service desk did not stop for a moment. Reception group leader Wu Xiulian was in charge at the service desk the whole time, with support from Song Manli (宋曼莉) and Lin Yufeng (林玉鳳), Chinese-language teachers at the Sun Yat-sen School. An extra telephone extension was installed at the desk. Besides helping with check-in, Secretary Chen Xoung-Chi kept everyone informed of the situation around the hotel.
At 6 a.m. on Saturday, September 6, a police car, eight police motorcycles, two black official limousines and five tour buses were already parked on the roads around the hotel.
Seeing that the police car and the police motorcycles had no flags on their front poles, Wu Xiulian at once handed out the spare small silk flags of the ROC and Panama (36 cm x 24 cm) to each driver, helped put them up, and asked that they stay on for the whole event. The policemen respectfully called her the Flag Lady (Senora Bandera).(9)
After breakfast the members gathered in front of the hotel's veranda, where the attendants for each vehicle held up signs and led them onto the buses.
At the same time, close to 200 representatives of the community associations, more than 1,500 teachers and students of the Sun Yat-sen School at the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center, over 1,000 members of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and their families, and more than 100 Chinese and foreign reporters and radio and television staff were converging from all directions on Tocumen International Airport.
The Friends Association's procession to welcome President Lee Teng-hui was led by a police car with its siren wailing, with eight heavy police motorcycles escorting the convoy. Behind the police car, Wang Nengzhang, director of the KMT Overseas Affairs Department, his wife and his aides rode in the first car; the second carried party staff, and the five tour buses followed. I sat at the very front of the first bus, to the right of the driver, holding a walkie-talkie to keep in touch with the other vehicles and report on the convoy's progress. From my high seat I watched the long, imposing convoy pass unhindered all the way to the airport. The passing cars and pedestrians gave us curious looks and hurried to make way. It was the first time in my life that my work had brought me such glamorous treatment, and I will never forget it.(10)
Guided by the attendants from each bus, the members of the Friends of Lee Teng-hui Association took their assigned places in the welcoming lines. At 8:30 a.m., President Lee and his wife, accompanied by Jason Yuan, the ROC ambassador to Panama, came out through the express passage on the left side of the airport and stepped onto the welcome walkway, about 10 meters wide and some 500 meters long.
On the left of the walkway stood representatives of the community associations and fellow overseas Chinese; on the right, members of the Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Association from many places. Members of Taiwanese chambers of commerce from around the world and the teachers and students of the Sun Yat-sen School lined both sides as well. Everyone in the welcoming lines held the flags of the ROC and Panama.
As President Lee and his party stepped onto the walkway, the flags of the two countries waved and cries of "Hello, Mr. President! Hello, Mr. President!" rang to the skies. Chinese and foreign reporters, television and radio crews surged forward to get their shots. Members of the two associations, carried away with emotion, pressed forward to shake the President's hand, and the security men of both countries were extremely tense.
From the moment President Lee entered the walkway until he reached the last person and got into his car took at least 30 minutes.
Among the ranks of the Sun Yat-sen School, President Lee asked again and again about the life and studies of the principal, Jesus Oscar, and the students. He was in excellent spirits, his delight plain on his face.
The next day, Panama's leading newspaper La Prensa remarked that only Taiwan could muster such a powerful show of mobilization.(11)
Over President Lee Teng-hui's visit, the Panamanian government came under heavy pressure at the United Nations, led by the Chinese Communists. When Lee arrived there was no military honor guard and no 21-gun salute; the Panamanian president did not come to the airport to greet him, and the escort motorcycles were in fact SYM motorcycles that the Evergreen Group had donated a little earlier.
The itinerary for Lee Teng-hui that Panama's Presidential Office handed to foreign journalists even left out his attendance at the canal conference, so the foreign reporters were thoroughly confused and had no idea what Mr. Lee had come for. This put the embassy press office in a rather awkward position.
The government of the Republic of China and the ruling party, by contrast, mobilized Friends of President Lee Teng-hui and members of Taiwanese chambers of commerce from all over the world, and together with the overseas Chinese community and its schools staged a welcome of rather one-sided enthusiasm.
Chen Kunqing, chairman of the Zhongshan Association and younger brother of the Panama community leader Mr. Chen Fengtian, put it quite fairly: mobilizing such a welcome for President Lee Teng-hui's visit certainly showed a force of unity, but for the Panamanian government and people it would not necessarily spread outward or have any lasting influence.(12)
After welcoming President Lee and his party, the members of the two associations went off on sightseeing tours around the outskirts of Panama City. The Friends Association, escorted by the police motorcycle squad, first visited the ruins of Panamá Viejo and then went on to Plaza de Francia.
In 1502 Christopher Columbus sailed southwest by way of the island of the Dominican Republic and landed in Panama. On September 25, 1513, the Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa (1475–1517) led a party across the Isthmus of Panama from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. He found that it faced a calm, peaceful gulf, with mountains and rivers, flowers, fish and butterflies, like a pearl fallen from the Milky Way.
Back in Spain, Balboa spread the word far and wide that Panama was an earthly paradise. Large numbers of Spanish settlers followed, and in those days it was celebrated as the "Pearl of the Pacific." The Spaniards founded Panama City here in 1519; next year (2019) will be the 500th anniversary of its founding, which the Panamanian government and people will celebrate with a carnival.(13)
The Panama City founded in 1519 is called the old city (Panamá Viejo); by the 1650s its population had grown to 100,000.
In 1671 the pirate Henry Morgan besieged the city to plunder the gold that passed across the isthmus on its way to the Spanish crown. After the pirates sacked it, the old city was burned down; some large masonry structures of the cathedral that still stand have become a popular tourist attraction.
When the pirates attacked, there was a church with a golden altar near the old city (Iglesias San Jose); to save the golden altar inside, people painted it black, and so it survived.
Two years later (1673), the Spaniards built a new city in the northwest of the Gulf of Panama, more than 10 kilometers from the old city. It is now called Casco Viejo and comprises the three districts of Santa Ana, San Felipe and Chorrillo; today's Presidential Office, the cathedral, the Directorate General of Posts and Chinatown all lie within it. So present-day Panama City is divided into the old city (the ruins), Casco Viejo, the new city and the development zones.(14)
After touring the ruins of Panamá Viejo, the members of the Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Association went on to another sight, Plaza de Francia. The square lies at the southeastern end of the Casco Viejo peninsula, in the San Felipe district of the colonial city, and was named in memory of the French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps (1805–1894).
In 1880, building on his success with the Suez Canal, de Lesseps came to Panama and spent seven long years digging the Panama Canal. But the Isthmus of Panama's difficult terrain and the ravages of yellow fever defeated the project, and it ended in bankruptcy. The United States later took over the digging and completed it in 1914.
The Casco Viejo peninsula covers only 0.3 square kilometers, yet within it are the French embassy in Panama, a memorial hall, the canal monument and Plaza de Francia.
The canal monument, reached by a flight of stone steps, faces the Pacific entrance of the canal. It is about 20 meters tall and resembles the Washington Monument. At its top stands a bronze rooster, emblem of the French Revolution, its head turned toward France. Below the monument's platform lies the Las Bovedas garden, where a walkway is lined with bronze busts of those who made special contributions to digging the Panama Canal, each with an inscription recording their deeds.
The tour buses parked by the roadside in the mixed residential and commercial area just before the peninsula, and the members walked to the sights within it, where they could see the little Spanish-style brick houses up close and enjoy some shopping.(15)
The two streets on the peninsula have many well-known gift shops and restaurants; besides choosing from a wide range of fine goods, visitors can feast on French, Italian and authentic Panamanian food.
Lunch for the Friends Association members was arranged at Longfeng Restaurant (龍鳳樓), a Cantonese restaurant. At 2 p.m. they went on to the Chinese-Panamanian Friendship Park for its opening ceremony.
The Chinese-Panamanian Friendship Park covers 30,000 square meters and lies right behind the hill of the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center; an overpass spans a road to connect the two.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of community leaders, the existing grounds were rebuilt over two years into a park with a Chinese cultural character and named the Chinese-Panamanian Friendship Park, symbolizing the deep friendship between the peoples of the Republic of China and the Republic of Panama. On September 6, 1997, President Lee Teng-hui cut the ribbon to open it.
Besides the same people mobilized that morning to meet the plane, at least three thousand more fellow overseas Chinese and local residents came of their own accord to watch the ceremony that day.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Chen Fengtian, permanent honorary president of the Chinese Association of Panama and founder of the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center, only 108 days before his death on December 23.(16)
After the opening of the Chinese-Panamanian Friendship Park, we returned to the hotel to rest and held the second preparatory meeting. At the same time, the opening ceremony of the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce annual meeting was held at the Hotel Marriott, and Friends Association members were free to attend.
At 4 p.m. all the members boarded the buses for the Hotel Miramar in the Bella Vista district to attend the opening ceremony of the World Federation of Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Associations and hear President Lee's speech.
The opening ceremony was held in the Hotel Miramar's conference hall, which could hold a thousand people. The hotel had not been open long and was honored to host, for the first time, a large event attended by a head of state.
Because the hall's stage did not suit the needs of the opening ceremony, it had to be widened. The decoration at the back of the stage was too ordinary and had to be redesigned to bring out the spirit of the meeting. Both jobs were finished just the day before the ceremony, naturally at considerable expense.(17)
Most extravagant of all, the emblem on the stage backdrop, 5 meters high and 12 meters wide, was changed from the original wooden board design to a blue silk drape. Twelve iron frames were bolted together into a single piece, both handsome and grand.
On the perfectly smooth drape, the words "Opening Ceremony of the Founding Congress of the World Federation of Friends of President Lee Teng-hui Associations" were displayed in Yan Zhenqing's regular script.
The 12-meter front of the stage was decorated with potted plants of the most precious Panamanian moth orchids. The community leaders exclaimed, "The KMT really has money." Their tone gave one something to think about.(18)
At the opening ceremony President Lee Teng-hui noted that in 1984 (year 73 of the Republic) he had served under Chiang Ching-kuo as the seventh vice president of the Republic of China; when Chiang Ching-kuo died on January 13, 1988 (year 77 of the Republic), he succeeded him as president. Two years later, in 1990 (year 79 of the Republic), the National Assembly elected him the eighth president. In 1996 (year 85 of the Republic), under the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China, he was elected the ninth president by direct popular vote. Up to now (September 1997) he had served four years as vice president and ten as president. "I have always been diligent and conscientious, doing my duty to serve the country and the people."
"Last year Friends of Lee Teng-hui Associations were founded one after another at home and abroad, and this year the world federation is being founded here in Panama. I want to express my sincere thanks to all of you members, and I hope you will give me your advice at any time and in any place, so that I may live up to the trust placed in me by Chiang Ching-kuo and by the whole people."(19)
After the opening ceremony of the founding congress of the Friends Associations' federation, members boarded the buses for the Chiang Kai-shek Gymnasium at the Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center to attend the banquet given at 7 p.m. by the Chinese Association of Panama, on behalf of the whole community, in honor of President Lee and his wife.
In 1985 (year 74 of the Republic), Lee Teng-hui, as vice president, had visited Panama on behalf of Chiang Ching-kuo, and the whole community had held a grand banquet for two thousand people at the international convention center in Panama City. Now, once again, the community mobilized more than two thousand people for a community-wide banquet.
The largest banquet in history that the Panama overseas Chinese community had held to welcome a visiting ROC leader was for Premier Sun Yun-suan's state visit to Panama on September 3, 1980 (year 69 of the Republic).
Wu Guangding, then the embassy's overseas Chinese affairs secretary (whose tenure, from June 1972 to June 1996, a full 24 years, was the longest in the history of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission), approached the Chinese Association to explore whether a joint banquet for the whole community could be held. The Chinese Association promptly called a meeting of the community associations' chairmen to prepare the welcome. Fellow overseas Chinese turned out eagerly, and Premier Sun and his party were welcomed by a grand gathering of 800 people.
This time, however, although the mobilized banquet still drew a crowd, it lacked warmth. In particular, left-leaning community associations created obstacles and even objected to the slogan "Unify China under the Three Principles of the People" (三民主義統一中國).(20)
On the morning of September 7 (Sunday), the federation of Friends Associations held two sessions of its congress at the Hotel Miramar and exchanged views with President Lee's entourage. In the afternoon members visited the canal locks and the Amador Causeway (Calzada de Amador).
The Amador Causeway covers 2.2 square kilometers (2.2 million square meters). It lies between Panama City and the Bridge of the Americas, which spans the entrance to the Panama Canal, and runs parallel to the Casco Viejo peninsula to the northeast across a stretch of water. When the canal was dug, the 1.6 billion metric tons of excavated earth were used to join four small islands off the coast in the Gulf of Panama, and this formed the causeway.
The causeway was once an American military base, and it still has many American-style buildings that served as U.S. military quarters. With its lovely scenery and pleasant views, it is one of Panama's best-known tourist attractions.
In June 2017 the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Panama established diplomatic relations. The Panamanian government agreed to provide four hectares of land (about 9.88 acres, or 4.12 Taiwanese jia) as the site for an embassy, but the plan was blocked under strong pressure from the U.S. government. (21)
After touring the canal locks and the Amador Causeway, we returned to our hotel (the Hotel El Panama) to rest, and the presidium held a meeting.
At seven in the evening we went to the Ocean View Hotel, where the opening ceremony had been held, to attend a banquet for the federation hosted by the Kuomintang. A Western-style set dinner was served, with everything you could wish for: soup, salad, dessert, caviar, beef tenderloin, seafood and red wine. It was a lavish spread rarely seen.
A vice-chairman of one community association, surnamed Guo, recalled that he had moved to Panama in the year the War of Resistance against Japan was won. In half a century he had attended countless community banquets, for the Double Tenth National Day, for visits by senior officials from home, for visits by the navy's goodwill squadron and so on. This one, he said, was the most extravagant of them all.
In recent years, thanks to technology, I have chatted online every day with old friends. We have talked about everything: Lee Teng-hui's restoration of "black gold" money politics, his "no haste, be patient" policy, the hollowing out of the party's assets, his claim that the Diaoyutai Islands are Japanese territory, the transfer of power between parties, Chen Shui-bian's corruption, Tsai Ing-wen's high-handedness, and the decline of the Kuomintang, which left Han Kuo-yu to fend for himself. With a bottle of mineral water and a bowl of braised pork rice, he went into battle for the Kuomintang and turned Kaohsiung's green land into blue sky. "Twenty years on the east bank of the river, twenty years on the west" (20年河東，20年河西): the Federation of Lee Teng-hui Friends Associations has long since been cast onto the ash heap of history. (22)
On the morning of Monday, September 8, members were free to do as they pleased. Some went to the Colón Free Trade Zone to shop for fine goods, and others toured the city. At the same time, a ceremony was held in Chinatown to unveil a ceremonial archway.
The ceremony was jointly presided over by Chu Chi-ying, chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, and the community leader Chen Fengtian. More than five hundred people watched, among them Panama's Minister of the Interior, government officials of Chinese descent, members of the National Assembly, the presidents of the community associations, and fellow overseas Chinese. Four characters in President Lee Teng-hui's calligraphy, "Fostering Friendship Between Nations" (敦睦邦誼), were placed at the top center of the archway.
At two in the afternoon, all members crossed the Bridge of the Americas to the scenic area of La Chorrera. We enjoyed the sunshine, the beach, the fishing harbor and the good food, and visited a nearby orchid-growing center.
In the evening a farewell banquet was held at the Chinese-owned International Restaurant on Vía España. Staff from the working groups of the organizing office and members of the regional Friends Associations took turns performing songs, dances, violin pieces, vocal mimicry, Taiwanese opera and more. The evening ended with everyone singing together "Tomorrow Will Be Better" (明天會更好) and "Ode to the Republic of China" (中華民國頌). (23)
At around nine in the morning on Tuesday, September 9, members of the Friends Associations and the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce made their separate ways to the Fort Davis export processing zone in Colón. The ROC's economic and trade agencies had pushed for, and subsidized, the formation of the "CNFI Central America Investment Study Mission" (工總中美洲投資考察團) by industrial and commercial groups. We attended the opening ceremony marking the mission's injection of capital into the zone and the start of factory production there.
The ceremony was jointly presided over by Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Executive Yuan's Council for Economic Planning and Development, and Panama's Minister of Commerce and Industry.
This investment was meant to support President Lee's "no haste, be patient" policy, as a pilot project for opening up new markets in Latin America. In the end it was "much thunder, little rain" (雷聲大雨點小): the three companies that invested lost everything.
After the ceremony, we toured the city of Colón and its outskirts on the way back. Led by a police motorcycle escort, we reached Panama's international airport on schedule to see President Lee and his wife off on their journey home. Unexpectedly, their departure had been moved forward by an hour, and the members of the Friends Associations could only watch in disappointment as the special plane flew away. Afterwards they blamed the embassy for failing to notify them in time, but that did no good.
Writing about President Lee Teng-hui's "Journey of Peace" in the December 1997 issue (No. 84) of the magazine Straits Review (海峽評論), the U.S.-based political commentator Hua Junxiong argued that Taipei had launched a diplomatic strategy of "using war to stop war," which forced Beijing to respond by fighting to the end.
The article pointed out that the three-day international conference on the Panama Canal that opened on September 7 was a preliminary meeting ahead of the handover of the canal's operation from the United States to Panama at the end of 1999.
Panama had hoped the conference would build a consensus among nations and produce a new plan for operating the canal in the 21st century. At least twenty heads of state had been expected. But because Panama invited Lee Teng-hui, who was box-office poison, only two presidents came, those of Honduras and Nicaragua, both countries with diplomatic ties to the Republic of China. Both still have diplomatic relations with the Republic of China today (2018).
The article further pointed out that the Taipei authorities believed it would be worth it if Lee Teng-hui could attend the conference and appear on television alongside world leaders for even three minutes, if only at the opening ceremony. Such thinking was truly beyond belief.
Twenty-one years have passed since this mobilization and show of strength in Panama, and it added one more page to the history of checkbook diplomacy. Was it worth it or not? Our people should take it as a lesson. (24, end of this chapter)
Essay 19: Beijing Cultivates Panama
In 1968, two junior officers of Panama's National Guard, Omar Torrijos and Manuel Antonio Noriega, both of whom later became national leaders, backed each other in staging a military coup and seized power. When power was divided, Torrijos, whose military seniority exceeded Noriega's, took the leading position. The following year, Torrijos made a trip to mainland China.
On October 25, 1971 (year 60 of the Republic), the Chinese Communist regime replaced the Republic of China as a member of the United Nations and one of the five permanent members of the Security Council.
The next day, President Chiang Kai-shek issued his "Message to the Nation's Compatriots" (告全國同胞書) to lift the spirits of the whole nation. After that, the Republic of China's diplomatic situation grew more difficult by the day, and its international standing gradually shrank.
In January 1975 (year 64 of the Republic), the member states of the United Nations Security Council met in Panama to discuss canal transit matters between their countries and Panama. Huang Hua, the Chinese Communist ambassador to the United Nations, led a 26-member delegation to the meeting in Panama, riding on the momentum of his government's soaring prestige at the time. (1)
The Republic of China's ambassador to Panama at the time was J. L. Huang (1901–1983), a native of Anyi, Jiangxi. He had earned a master's degree from Columbia University in the United States in 1926 and had a deep command of both Chinese and English. In 1934 the Nationalist Government founded the Officers' Moral Endeavor Association, and he served as its general secretary. It was a logistics and supply organization, and during the War of Resistance against Japan it hosted foreign military and political dignitaries who came to China. He enjoyed the deep trust of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling, and served as the chief steward of their personal services for forty years.
In 1943 J. L. Huang accompanied Chiang Kai-shek to the Cairo Conference. After the government moved to Taiwan, he became Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Service Forces in 1954 with the rank of lieutenant general, although he did not belong to the Whampoa clique. He was posted to Panama as ambassador in November 1964 and left the post in February 1975.
Huang Hua had come to Panama under orders to launch a beachhead offensive. He meant to seize this rare opportunity to win Panama over at a stroke, then sway its neighbors and set off a domino effect, so that the PRC would establish diplomatic relations with every country in Central America.
Ambassador J. L. Huang, with no warning at all, was told by Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs that he should leave the capital for the duration of the canal meeting, a clear sign that Panama had bowed to Chinese Communist pressure. Ambassador Huang was forced to withdraw that very day to the villa of the community leader Chen Fengtian in El Valle, Coclé Province. In diplomatic protocol, this was a most unusual thing. (2)
The ambassador's official car, an American Cadillac from the late 1960s nearly ten years old, was driven by Sergeant First Class Gao Qingfu of the ROC Marine Corps, who had been seconded from military service. On the road from Panama City to El Valle, the ambassador and his wife said not a word, gazing out of the window at the passing scenery. Ambassador Huang must have been thinking hard about how to face whatever might happen next.
Ambassador Huang was a very steady, down-to-earth man who handled matters decisively, with the bearing of a general turned ambassador. He also lodged a stern protest against the actions of Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
That evening Gao Qingfu showed off his fine cooking and made several tasty dishes. The ambassador and his wife were calm, and they enjoyed a dinner of a different kind. After the meal they strolled around the villa in the valley. Back indoors, Ambassador Huang bent over his desk and wrote rapidly, most likely about official business.
On the eve of giving Huang Hua his answer on whether to establish diplomatic relations with the Chinese Communists, General Torrijos first sought Chen Fengtian's opinion. Chen Fengtian said firmly: the overseas Chinese in Panama will always support the Republic of China.
Torrijos praised Chen Fengtian's steadfast loyalty, and Chen's influence averted a crisis that had come close to a break in diplomatic relations. Still, Huang Hua did not go home empty-handed. He won permission for the Xinhua News Agency to open a branch in Panama, which later became the official point of contact between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Panama.
The following month, Ambassador Huang's request to resign on grounds of health was approved. In 1981 he went to New York to join his eldest son, a lawyer, and he died of illness in New York in 1983. (3)
From the 1960s to the 1970s, Mao Zedong Thought (Maoist), or Maoism, was all the rage in Latin America. Many people and organizations believed that Mao Zedong's policies and ideas fit the needs of Latin American countries and could solve the poverty of the working masses, and they saw themselves as followers of Mao's lifelong theory and practice.
For the Chinese Communists, Latin America was not only a place to gather intelligence about the United States but also an ideal place to export Mao Zedong Thought.
After the People's Republic of China replaced the Republic of China in its United Nations seat on October 25, 1971, it worked actively to cultivate Latin America. Panama, a transport hub of Latin America with a canal linking two oceans, was the most important prize of all, and the Chinese Communists did everything they could to win it.
I arrived in Panama at the end of October 1979. Every so often, workers, peasants and labor groups would demonstrate noisily in front of the National Assembly plaza, demanding diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.
In fact, many Western scholars and experts pointed out at the time that Mao Zedong Thought and Sun Yat-sen's thought had a great deal in common. The Chinese Communists revered Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Father of the Nation of the Republic of China, as the forerunner of the revolution, and so the followers would naturally be the Chinese Communist Party. Scholars and experts of the Republic of China on Taiwan evidently wrote very little about this point. (4)
After the Xinhua News Agency's Panama branch was set up, mainland China frequently sent non-governmental groups to Panama on friendship visits, in sports, folk arts, arts and letters, academic exchange, trade exhibitions and more.
One that left a deep impression was a performance by the Wuqiao, Hebei acrobatic troupe. Their graceful movements and superb skill amazed fellow overseas Chinese and Panamanians alike.
Another was a friendly match between the Hubei men's basketball team, champions of the 1980 national Class A league and famous for being "fast, accurate and fierce," and the Panama Defense Forces basketball team, which had once won the men's basketball title at the Pan American Games. The superb skill on both sides and the fierce contest had the spectators cheering with delight.
In July 1982, a trade delegation from the provinces and cities along the mainland's coast exhibited industrial and commercial products at the international convention center in Panama City. They even got Panama's Minister of Commerce and Industry to cut the ribbon. More outrageous still, the five-star red flag was raised outside the venue and the national anthem of the People's Republic of China was played inside.
Like New York, London and Tokyo, Panama is an international financial center. By the 1980s there were already more than a hundred foreign banks in Panama. HSBC came to Panama as early as 1972. Then, on August 1, 1974, the International Commercial Bank of China opened a branch in Panama City, the Republic of China's first bank in Latin America, providing excellent financial services to the growing Chinese community. Mainland China spared no effort either: in 1987 the Bank of China opened a sub-branch office in Panama City, which was upgraded to a full branch in 1994.
Over more than twenty years, mainland China's financial institutions in Panama have come to cover banking, the stock market, insurance and reinsurance companies, and finance and leasing companies. (5)
In June 1981 (year 70 of the Republic), Panama's ruling party, the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), was strongly inclined to court the Chinese Communists. The PRC vice foreign minister Zhou Nan (周南) hurried to Panama to discuss the possibility of establishing diplomatic relations. Because the Republic of China embassy and the loyal community leaders responded well, Zhou Nan returned empty-handed. After that, Communist China changed its strategy for winning diplomatic relations with Panama. Step by step, it built up frequent contact with Panama through economic and trade, cultural and sports exchanges.
In early 1986 Panama threw its doors wide open, new immigrants from the mainland poured in, and Communist China also took up parliamentary diplomacy. At that time Yang Hexi (楊荷西), the most influential Chinese-Panamanian member of the National Assembly, was brought into it through the mediation of pro-Communist community leaders. In August of that year he led a delegation of eight legislators on a visit to Beijing. In September of the same year, a six-member delegation from the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China arrived in Panama on a return visit. In July 1987 the Panamanian legislature again formed an eleven-member delegation and went to Beijing, actively paving the way for the People's Republic of China to set up a foothold in Panama.
In February 1996, Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed that Communist China could send an advance team to Panama to prepare for setting up an office. On March 5, Ju Yijie (居一杰), a counsellor of the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Panama together with two officials of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Zhang Shanli (張善利) and Lin Liyang (林力揚). They immediately began making courtesy calls and held talks with Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on opening the office. (6)
On September 23, 1996, Panama's foreign minister Ricardo Alberto Arias met the PRC foreign minister Qian Qichen at United Nations headquarters in New York, and their talks touched on the formal opening and operation of Communist China's trade office in Panama. From then on it was settled that Communist China would establish a representative body in Panama.
After that, the pro-Communist community associations made a whole series of moves to court Beijing. First they formed a preparatory committee for the October 1 National Day of the People's Republic of China, and then held a dinner on September 30 to welcome the Communist Chinese representative Ju Yijie and his colleagues. The two Chinese-language newspapers, the Latin America Express (拉美快報) and the Haiwai Shibao (海外時報), both reported on these in detail. LA REPUBLICA (共和報), run under the guidance of the Kuomintang, with a history of nearly 70 years and long the voice of the overseas Chinese, had announced on May 1 that it would cease publication, because of financial straits and mounting losses.
On the evening of October 16, 1996, the Trade Development Office of the People's Republic of China in Panama officially opened. The heads of the pro-Communist community associations, including Zhong Zhenbang (鍾震邦), president of the Chinese Association, turned out almost to a man at the celebratory reception.
That same day, the Republic of China's vice minister of foreign affairs, Chen Chien-jen (程建人), happened to be visiting Panama, and the only people who went to the airport to meet him were embassy officials and the committee members of the KMT Panama branch. The next day, Vice Minister Chen hosted a luncheon for the presidents of the community associations at the Caesar Park Hotel, where he was staying. Remarkably, every one of the Beijing-courting presidents who had attended the opening reception of the Communist Chinese office was there. When the community leaders loyal to the Republic of China saw this, they had very mixed feelings. (7)
On December 20, 1989, the United States launched the invasion of Panama, code-named Operation Just Cause, and installed Guillermo Endara's coalition government, which the Republic of China was the first to recognize. President Endara was always friendly toward the Republic of China and visited Taipei twice during his term, and he followed a moderate line in foreign policy. But the sluggish domestic economy plagued the Endara government throughout and caused much public discontent. The opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party seized the chance to launch a propaganda offensive, and with the public eager for something new and for change, Ernesto Pérez Balladares won power in the election of May 8, 1994, and the Democratic Revolutionary Party returned to government.
In July 1994, Pérez Balladares visited Beijing as president-elect and was received by the PRC premier Li Peng, the minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation Li Lanqing, and others.
On September 1, 1994, Pérez Balladares was sworn in as president, and Vice President Li Yuan-tsu of the Republic of China led a delegation to Panama on behalf of President Lee Teng-hui to offer congratulations. President Pérez Balladares received Vice President Li that same day, and the two had a most pleasant conversation lasting nearly an hour. Pérez Balladares stressed that the deep friendship between Panama and the Republic of China would continue to develop on its existing good foundation. His wish to have it both ways was all too plain.
After Panama's election in May 1994, the attitude of the Beijing-courting associations in the overseas Chinese community came out into the open. In the election of the 13th board of directors and supervisors of the Chinese Association, the pro-Communist Huaxian (Fa Yuen) Association maneuvered successfully and at one stroke captured a third of the standing directors' and supervisors' seats. In a fiercely contested race, Zhong Zhenbang was elected president of the Chinese Association. (8)
On December 6 of the first year of the Xuantong reign (1909), the Qing court established a consulate general in the Republic of Panama. On February 12, 1912, the Republic of China continued the diplomatic relations between the Qing court and the Republic of Panama, until they ended in June 2017, when Panama switched to the People's Republic of China. The friendship between the two countries had lasted 108 years.
The establishment of relations between Panama and Communist China was a tortuous process that took 42 years, and "the China factor" was the main reason for it.
Looking through the history of diplomatic relations between the Republic of China and the Republic of Panama, things went very smoothly until October 1971, before the Republic of China withdrew from the United Nations. After that, the inducements offered by the People's Republic of China changed the situation fundamentally.
After the Republic of China withdrew from the United Nations, its bilateral cooperation agreements with the Republic of Panama numbered as many as 24 by the time relations were broken off. They covered culture, trade, agricultural technology, fishery technology, international express delivery, the establishment of export processing zones, the treatment and protection of investment, air transport, tourism, news and more. The Republic of China's investment in and aid to the Republic of Panama amounted to at least US$21 billion. Yet in the end it still could not withstand "China's inducements," and Panama broke off relations with the Republic of China. (9)
On July 12, 2017, a month after Panama broke off relations with the Republic of China, Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that all treaties, agreements, memorandums of understanding and other instruments signed with the Republic of China had lost their legal force as of the day Panama recognized the People's Republic of China.
As of the end of 2017, shipping companies of the Republic of China had 68 vessels registered in Panama, making it the fifth-largest source of flag-of-convenience ships for Panama. Of these, 45 container ships belonged to Evergreen Marine.
In 1997 (year 86 of the Republic), Evergreen Marine invested US$1 billion and completed its dedicated terminal at the port of Colón. In December 2015 (year 104 of the Republic), Evergreen's fourth deep-water container terminal was completed and put into service. In July 2018, the start of construction on the third phase of Evergreen Marine's dedicated terminal went ahead and was not interrupted by Panama's establishment of relations with the People's Republic of China.
By contrast, Hutchison Port Holdings, from the Chinese mainland, won the bid for the management rights of the ports at both ends of the Panama Canal in 1999, before the United States withdrew from the canal. At the time, American public opinion claimed that this would certainly endanger American security. (10)
On November 30, 2018, the G20 summit was held in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. After the summit, on December 2, President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China visited Panama. Panama's president Juan Carlos Varela called it "an unprecedented visit." Twenty cooperation agreements were signed in the fields of business, technology and infrastructure, with investment of US$15 billion. This included spending US$900 million over the past three years to acquire Margarita port, the largest port on Panama's Atlantic coast, at the entrance to the canal, as well as winning the bid for the expansion of the Panama City metro system.
The "City of Hope" housing project being signed also included the expansion of the international convention center and of the bridges across the canal.
Panama's Ministry of Public Works announced in July 2018 that, after the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Panama established diplomatic relations, a China Harbour Engineering consortium had won the bid to build the Fourth Bridge over the canal and carry out the related expansion works. This will be the most closely watched major project in Panama, and indeed in all of Central America, for the next several years.
The four great bridges over the Panama Canal are these. First, the Centennial Bridge (being widened), which links Arraiján on the west bank of the canal with Cerro Patacón on the east bank. Second, the Bridge of the Americas (being widened), a highway bridge in Panama that spans the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal; it is a truss arch bridge, 1,654 meters long, whose highest point is 117 meters above sea level. Third, the Third Bridge over the canal (now under construction), about 12,000 meters long in total, the first bridge on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal and one of the longest-span concrete cable-stayed bridges in the world. Fourth, the Fourth Bridge over the canal (to be built), a combined road and rail cable-stayed bridge, 510 meters long, 51 meters wide and 75 meters high, which together with the eight lanes of the widened Bridge of the Americas will form a "Northern Corridor." (11)
According to the per capita GDP figures for 2017 published by the International Monetary Fund, the Taiwan Area of the Republic of China stood at US$24,292, ranking 33rd, and Panama at US$15,089, ranking 53rd. Both were above the Chinese mainland's US$8,643, which ranked 72nd. The international media all remarked on this, and concluded that the main reason the Chinese mainland was scattering money so generously on Panama must be Panama's geopolitical advantage.
Reuters and the Voice of America reported that, for the People's Republic of China, Panama after the establishment of relations would become an important diplomatic and economic pivot among the countries of Latin America, possibly even rivalling American influence in the region, or at the very least serving as a "potential bargaining chip" in relations between China and the United States.
In October of this year, when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Panama, he warned Panama's president Juan Carlos Varela to be careful in doing business with China, because Chinese state-owned enterprises were engaged in "predatory economic activity."
These media went on to point out that this contest between the two great powers, China and the United States, in Panama would turn Central America into a proxy battlefield for influence between superpowers of a kind not seen since the Cold War. Moreover, Panama is one of the countries that in recent years broke off relations with Taiwan and established relations with the Chinese mainland, and the underlying logic was China's luring of Panama with its huge financial aid and international influence. To keep the wave of countries breaking with Taiwan going, Beijing will surely continue to pour large sums into these newly allied countries, so as to further squeeze Taiwan's international space.
The Taiwan Solidarity Union pointed out that one month before Panama broke off relations with the Republic of China, the ROC still paid Panama US$2.9 million for a number of cooperation projects. Paying this money was truly not worth it, and it leaves us something to ponder. (12)
European and American opinion says that Panama will become an "important diplomatic and economic pivot" for the People's Republic of China among the countries of Latin America, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that Chinese state-owned enterprises are engaged in "predatory economic activity" in Panama. The ethnic Chinese and overseas Chinese in Panama see these claims differently.
A new immigrant from the mainland surnamed Wang, who arrived in Panama in the late 1990s, said that a rising China investing on a grand scale in Panama's development has given the Belt and Road Initiative a maritime foothold in Latin America in Panama, and that this will surely raise the social standing of the overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese in Panama.
A Chinese-Panamanian surnamed Chen, born and raised in Panama, saw it differently. Citing the examples of Sri Lanka and Malaysia, he felt that Panama would not necessarily benefit and might instead be harmed.
A veteran Taiwanese businessman said that The New York Times and The Washington Post have both reported voices in American political and business circles saying that after the China–US trade war, China has turned from a competitor of the United States into an enemy, and that China's sphere of influence has now reached America's backyard. In the next few years, he said, the United States will surely stir up trouble in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait in pursuit of a global strategic balance, and disputes and turmoil in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait will follow. (13, end of chapter)