China lodges protests over monument demolition in Panama: spokesman

China strongly deplores the demolition of a Chinese monument by a local government in Panama and has lodged protests with the Panamanian side, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.

From Saturday night to Sunday morning, the China-Panama Friendship Park and the monument commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese people in Panama was demolished by a local government.

"China strongly deplores the demolition of the monument by a local government in Panama and has lodged protests with the Panamanian side," Lin said. "We have noted that this act has aroused public outrage in Panama. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has publicly condemned the act, and the presidential office of Panama has ordered the immediate reconstruction of the monument on its original site. We urge the Panamanian side to thoroughly investigate the matter, promptly correct the wrong acts of the relevant local government, and eliminate the adverse effects timely," he said.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Monday conducted drills on assault against maritime targets and long-distance raids to the southeast of Taiwan island, said Shi Yi, spokesman of the PLA Eastern Theater Command.

The PLA Eastern Theater Command dispatched task forces of bombers, amphibious assault ships, anti-ship missiles to conduct drills on vessel-aircraft coordination, maritime target strike, long-distance raid, and comprehensive support in the waters and airspace to the southeast of the Taiwan island, Shi said.