The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Panama demanded a thorough investigation, sanctions for those responsible, and the restoration of the China-Panama Park and the Monument to the 150th Anniversary of the Arrival of the Chinese to Panama to its original location, following the demolition that occurred on the night of December 27 at the Mirador del Puente de las Américas viewpoint in the district of Arraiján.
In a solemn statement, the diplomatic mission expressed its profound consternation and indignation at an action that, it noted, was carried out without prior notice or communication with the country's Chinese associations, despite the express opposition of members of the Chinese-Panamanian community present at the scene.
For the Embassy, what happened went beyond an administrative procedure. That same year, the China-Panama Park was inaugurated, mainly financed by the Chinese community with the support of the Chinese government, as a tribute to the shared history of both peoples. In this context, the Embassy expressed its support for the statements of President José Raúl Mulino and several institutions that have questioned what happened.
Finally, the diplomatic mission called on the Chinese community in Panama to defend its rights rationally and in accordance with the law, reaffirming its commitment to respect, coexistence, and social stability.
Over time, the Chinese community settled, prospered, and decisively contributed to the economic, social, and cultural development of the nation. In recognition of that contribution, the Panamanian State declared March 30 as the Day of the Chinese Ethnicity in 2004.
This is a direct blow to historical memory and the feelings of more than 300,000 Chinese-Panamanians, who have been part of the country's social fabric for 171 years. The communiqué recalls that the first Chinese citizens arrived in Panama in the 19th century to work on the construction of the Interoceanic Railroad, and many of them were buried along the route of the Canal.
For the Embassy, both the park and the monument are national heritage and not the property of any local government. The document also reveals that since 2024, Chinese associations have repeatedly attempted to dialogue with the Arraiján Municipality to preserve and improve the park, even offering to finance its renovation. The Embassy itself formally expressed its willingness to collaborate in the restoration, a proposal that was also not heeded.
