China has a habit of trying to bully small nations.
Back in April 1997, it threatened Denmark and the Netherlands because these nations supported introducing the annual resolution on human rights in China in the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. Panamanian President Ernesto Perz Balladares invited Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui to attend the inaugural ceremony of the conference. President Balladares was unfazed by the Chinese threats, and said that Panama wouldn't sacrifice its relations with Taiwan to please China, even if China stopped using the waterway. As expected, the United Nations gave in to Chinese pressure and decided not to send a delegation to the conference. Sao Tome and Principe are being bullied by China because in May 1997, this island-chain off the coast of Africa established relations with Taiwan.