to 35,000. The latest wave of immigrants are less educated than earlier arrivals, and their presence has caused internal tensions within the Chinese community. Tensions have also arisen due to external factors; the government of the People's Republic of China vies with the Republic of China on Taiwan for influence among the local Chinese community, hoping to gain formal diplomatic recognition from the Panamanian government. Both sides have funded the building of schools and other community facilities and donated millions of dollars worth of Chinese textbooks. The National Chinese Ethnic Council created by Law 32 of 2014, made up of nine members, six are ethnic chinese, the first secretary of the Council is Juan Tam, and representatives of the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES), Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) and Ministry of Culture (MICULTURA). Notable individuals Jorge Cham, web comic creator of Piled Higher and Deeper Bruce Chen, pitcher for the Cleveland Indians Roberto Chen, Panamanian footballer of Chinese descent Marelissa Him, model, part Chinese on her father's side Shey Ling Him Gordon, Panama's delegate to the Miss World 2007 competition Sigrid Nunez, American writer (Chinese-Panamanian father, German mother) References Further reading Panama Chinese Latin American Ethnic groups in Panama