China condemned the overnight demolition of a 2004 monument honoring the Chinese community in Panama, calling the action a damaging affront to bilateral friendship. Videos showed excavators tearing down the memorial near the Panama Canal; by morning only broken stone lions remained. Panama's president blamed local authorities, vowed to rebuild the monument and ordered an investigation amid protests and some business closures. Officials said the removal was due to "structural risks," but did not explain the nighttime timing.
China Condemns Nighttime Demolition Of Panama Monument; Panama Vows To Rebuild
FILE - A police officer walks by a monument honoring 150 years of the Chinese community in Panama City, June 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco, File)
Beijing on Monday sharply condemned the nighttime demolition of a monument that honored the Chinese community in Panama, an episode that has inflamed local protests and heightened diplomatic tensions as the U.S. presses Latin American countries to limit ties with China.
What Happened
Social media videos circulated overnight showing large excavators dismantling a memorial installed in 2004 that commemorated Chinese migrants who helped build railways and the Panama Canal. The monument — featuring a ceremonial arch, curved roof tiles and stone guardian lions — stood at a scenic overlook near the Panama Canal. By morning, workers were clearing rubble; only two broken stone lions remained beside the curb.
Diplomatic Response
The Chinese Embassy in Panama accused local authorities of having "brazenly and forcibly demolished" the monument and said the action had "seriously damaged the friendly sentiments of the Chinese people towards the Panamanian people." Ambassador Xu Xueyuan demanded an explanation on X, writing that the monument embodied decades of the Chinese community's contribution.
"This monument, which held more than a century of life, blood, and dedication from the Chinese community, has been shattered to pieces. A symbol of China-Panama friendship, reduced to nothing. And I ask: why?" — Ambassador Xu Xueyuan.
Local Reaction And Official Statements
The Arraiján mayorship said the monument was removed because it posed "structural risks" and dismissed suggestions the action was politically motivated; the office did not explain why the demolition took place overnight. Panama's president condemned the demolition as an act of "barbarity," blamed local authorities, pledged that the federal government would rebuild the memorial and called for an immediate investigation.
Residents of Panama's Chinese community and other locals staged protests at the site, and some businesses announced temporary closures in response. A Panamanian tour guide told reporters he was stunned to see the damage when bringing tourists to the site, noting the long-standing contributions of Chinese migrants to the country.
Wider Context
The incident comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has accused China of exerting undue influence in the region — including unproven claims about control over the Panama Canal — while pushing Latin American countries to reduce economic dependence on Beijing. China has expanded investment across Latin America in recent years, intensifying competition with the United States for regional influence.
Note on reported timelines: News reports described the monument as marking roughly 150 years of Chinese presence; the Chinese ambassador referenced "171 years" in his post. The discrepancy reflects differing ways of describing the community's long history in Panama.
Janetsky reported from Mexico City. Associated Press journalist Alma Solís in Panama City contributed to this report.
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