In Panama, the Mirador del Puente de las Américas, a symbolic structure commemorating the arrival of the first Chinese citizens, was demolished silently at night without prior public notice. The event caught many by surprise, and within minutes, the issue exploded on social media, in the streets, and within the Chinese-Panamanian community. For months, the Chinese community had warned of the demolition plans initiated by the Arraiján Municipality, but attempts at dialogue and restoration proposals went unanswered. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino had previously dismissed linking the monument's removal to the geopolitical rivalry between China and the U.S. as "ridiculous," urging not to mix international politics with local decisions. Following the demolition, the municipality stated the decision was based on strict technical and safety grounds, citing visible deterioration, corroded foundations, and unstable areas. The Chinese Ambassador to Panama, Xu Xueyuan, expressed that the act affected the sentiments of over 300,000 Chinese-Panamanians, calling December 27, 2025, "a day of pain." The demolition on social media divided public opinion, with some celebrating it as an act of sovereignty and others criticizing it as unnecessary, opaque, and poorly handled.
