Panama's Chinese Ambassador Expresses 'Great Sorrow' Over the Demolition of the Monument at the Bridge of the Americas Overlook

The Chinese monument at the Mirador de Las Américas (Bridge of the Americas Overlook) in Panama was recently demolished by local authorities Saturday December 27th. The monument was erected to commemorate the 150-year history of the Chinese community in Panama. There will be a gathering Sunday night in memory.

Details of the Demolition

Location: The monument was part of the Mirador de Las Américas park, located at the western end of the Bridge of the Americas in the Arraiján district of Panama.
Description: The monument was an Eastern-style arch and obelisk that commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Chinese presence in Panama and their contributions to national development.
Reason for Demolition: Arraiján Mayor Stefany Peñalba announced plans to “rescue public spaces to promote culture, tourism, the economy and business,” with renderings of a new park without the monument. The 20-year concession for the monument had expired, and the municipality did not respond to the Chinese Association of Panama’s requests to renovate it.
Controversy: The demolition caused controversy, with the Chinese Association expressing concerns and some viewing the government’s actions as potentially linked to broader geopolitics and Panama’s strengthening relationship with the United States over China.
Current Status: The monument is gone, and a new park is planned for the site. The location remains a popular lookout point for views of the Bridge of the Americas and the Panama Canal.

President Mulino Calls the Demolition of the Chinese Monument ‘Unforgivable’ and Announces that it will be Rebuilt

Political Leaders Erupt Over the Demolition of the Chinese Monument

Following the demolition, Panama’s Foreign Ministry offered to relocate the tribute to the Chinese community. An empty space and fragments of the monument are evidence of the nighttime demolition. The demolition of the monument honoring the Chinese-Panamanian community, which took place Saturday night in the area of the Bridge of the Americas, has unleashed a wave of political and diplomatic outrage that continues to grow. Government figures, former presidents, and opposition leaders all agreed in describing the act as shameful, irrational, and unforgivable.

The Minister for Canal Affairs, José Ramón Icaza, was one of the first to react and strongly supported the position of President José Raúl Mulino. “Nobody tears down a monument on a Saturday at 9 p.m. —in the dead of night, typical of criminal acts— unless it is to commit an aberrant and irrational act,” he stated. Icaza added that “there is no justification for such an atrocity” and reiterated that the Chinese-Panamanian community “deserves all our appreciation and respect.”

Former President Martín Torrijos described the demolition as a “shameful and undignified” act , recalling that the Chinese community has been valued and respected by generations of Panamanians. “Demolishing this historical landmark is completely inexcusable, especially given the current situation in our country and the world. Panama needs respect, coexistence, and remembrance,” he stated.

Even harsher was former president Ernesto Pérez Balladares, who described the nighttime demolition as “an aberration by sick people,” as it was a monument that commemorated the life and contribution of Panamanians of Chinese descent.

In the current political arena, former presidential candidate and leader of the Another Way Movement, Ricardo Lombana, stated that what happened “is not just a takedown, it is a wound to our collective identity.” Lombana questioned the way the action was carried out and stressed that, if structural risks existed, the proper course of action should have been to “inform, engage in dialogue, make repairs, and act transparently for the country.” “Our history is not rewritten with shovels or under the cover of darkness,” he emphasized.

Former presidential candidate and former mayor of San Salvador, José Isabel Blandón, called the action “deplorable” and questioned the timing. “Doing it on a Saturday night, between Christmas and New Year’s, shows they know what they’re doing is wrong. Their conscience betrays them,” he stated.

The mayor of the capital district, Mayer Mizrachi, joined the wave of pronouncements, calling for reconciliation and recognition of the historical contributions of the Panamanian-Chinese community. Mizrachi proposed the construction of a new monument in the capital city to honor their culture and their impact on the country’s development. “Not only of the last 170 years, but of the next 170 years as well,” he said, acknowledging that the initiative does not replace or remedy the damage or pain caused, but reaffirms that Panama is strengthened by its melting pot of races and that the Chinese community is “loved and appreciated as part of Panamanian society.”

The Foreign Ministry Issues a Statement

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama also issued an official statement, expressing its concern about the demolition and regretting that an administrative action has generated “feelings of offense and misunderstanding” towards a community that has been an essential part of national development for more than 170 years. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the State must act with historical sensitivity, dialogue, and respect for the symbols of collective memory. Furthermore, they expressed willingness to accompany the Chinese-Panamanian community and the relevant authorities to identify a new, dignified space where the legacy can be honored and preserved. “The Republic of Panama cannot afford to hurt any of its communities or send the wrong signals of cultural exclusion,” the statement concluded.

The Mayor of Arraiján Defends the Demolition of the Chinese Monument, Asserting that it was a Technical and Legal Decision

Stefany Dayan Peñalba pictured above, mayor of Arraiján, stated that the decision was based on technical and security criteria, and assured that it is not due to political pressure nor does it seek to offend or disregard the cultural legacy of the Chinese community in Panama. Peñalba also reported that the Mayor’s Office will be in charge of the renovation of the viewpoint, as well as promoting its tourism with a Panamanian and multicultural focus, highlighting that Arraiján represents “The Gateway to the West”

The Foreign Ministry is Willing to Find Another Site for a New Monument in Honor of the Panamanian-Chinese Community

Original Structure is Pictured Below: