Tensions in the Panama Canal: Chinese monument demolished, Beijing demands investigation
Diplomatic relations in Central America have taken a sudden turn for the worse after a local municipality in Panama demolished a Chinese monument located at the eastern entrance to the strategic Panama Canal. The incident sparked official condemnation, with the Panamanian president describing it as a "barbaric act," at a time of escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and China over influence in this vital waterway.
Details of the incident and official reactions
The municipality of Arakan, located at the entrance to the canal, ordered the demolition of a traditional Chinese gate erected in 2004 on the Bridge of the Americas, the massive metal structure spanning the canal. The municipality justified its decision in an official statement, claiming the monument had suffered structural damage that posed a risk to public safety. However, this justification was not accepted by the highest levels of government in the country.
Panama's President, Jose Raul Molino , reacted angrily to the incident, calling it an "irrational and unforgivable act" and an "unjustifiable barbarity," and ordering an immediate investigation into the destruction of the monument, which included two lion statues and an obelisk, which still stands alone amid the rubble.
Chinese anger and deep historical roots
For her part, the Chinese ambassador to Panama, Xu Xueyuan , expressed her deep regret, describing the demolition day as a "dark day" for more than 300,000 Panamanians of Chinese descent. She affirmed that "history will remember this," expressing her sorrow over what she considered an attack on a symbol of friendship between the two countries.
It is worth noting that the Chinese presence in Panama is not a recent phenomenon, but rather has deep historical roots dating back to the mid-19th century. The first Chinese immigrants arrived in Panama in 1854 to participate in the construction of the Panama Railway , and later they participated in the canal excavation works, making the Chinese community an integral part of the country's social and historical fabric, which explains the extreme sensitivity surrounding the demolition of the monument.
The struggle for influence and the future of the Panama Canal
This incident comes at a highly sensitive time internationally, as the United States seeks to curb China's growing influence in Latin America, particularly around the Panama Canal. The canal is a vital artery for global trade, handling approximately 5% of international maritime trade, and Washington and Beijing are among its largest users.
Political rhetoric has recently escalated, with US President Donald Trump in previous statements to work to "take back control" of the canal, which was under US administration between 1914 and 1999. US concern is based on the presence of Chinese companies, such as Hutchison Holdings (based in Hong Kong), operating strategic ports on both sides of the canal in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, which Washington considers a threat to its national security in its backyard.
