A monument honouring China’s role at the Panama Canal was torn down by local order, sparking diplomatic outrage and accusations of vandalism
PANAMA CITY: A monument honouring China’s contributions to the Panama Canal was torn down near the waterway’s entrance.
The demolition was ordered by the mayor’s office of Arraijan, which cited structural risks from the 2004-built monument.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino condemned the act as an “unforgivable act of irrationality” with no justification.
China’s ambassador to Panama, Xu Xueyuan, called the destruction a “great pain for bilateral friendship.”
Xu noted the act was an insult to the 300,000-strong Chinese-Panamanian community.
Local media videos showed police preventing members of the Chinese community from stopping the demolition.
The Chinese embassy demanded a thorough investigation and severe sanctions for the “illegal” actions.
The monument’s removal follows US President Donald Trump’s threats to retake control of the canal.
Trump has claimed Beijing holds too much influence over the strategic waterway’s operations.
The US and China are the primary users of the 80-kilometre canal, which handles 5% of global maritime trade.
The canal was under US control from 1914 until Panama assumed full authority in 1999.
Trump has recently demanded preferential conditions for American vessels using the canal.
Hong Kong-based Hutchison Holdings operates two key ports at the canal but has agreed to sell them to US firm BlackRock.
