Japan has returned its last two giant pandas to China, marking the first time the country has been without the animals since 1972. The departure of the twin cubs, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, comes as diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalate over Taiwan.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
Thousands of visitors lined up at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo on Sunday to say goodbye to the pandas, who will leave for China on Tuesday. The twins, born in 2021, were loaned to Japan under an agreement that requires their eventual return to China, which retains ownership of all pandas abroad.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated in November that Tokyo would consider military intervention if China attacked Taiwan, prompting a sharp rebuke from Beijing. The pandas’ departure has been framed by some observers as a reflection of deteriorating relations.
Deeper Dive & Context
Public Farewell and Emotional Reactions
Visitors, including parents who brought their children to see the pandas since infancy, expressed sadness at the animals’ departure. One woman told the BBC, “I have been bringing my son here since he was a baby, so I hope it becomes a good memory for him.” Others recalled witnessing the pandas’ growth from cubs.
Approximately 108,000 people applied for the 4,400 available slots to see the pandas one last time, with some waiting in line for over three hours.
Diplomatic and Historical Context
China has used panda diplomacy since 1949 as a gesture of goodwill, loaning the animals to foreign countries in exchange for an annual fee of about $1 million per pair. Japan’s last pandas before Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei were returned in 2011.
The current tensions stem from Japan’s stance on Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. Prime Minister Takaichi’s remarks in November triggered a strong response from Beijing, which accused Japan of interfering in its internal affairs.
Long-Term Implications
The pandas’ departure leaves Japan without any giant pandas for the first time since 1972, the year diplomatic ties were normalized. While the move was planned, some analysts suggest it underscores broader strains in China-Japan relations, which have also been affected by trade disputes and territorial disputes in the East China Sea.
China’s panda loan program has been a tool of soft power, with the animals serving as cultural ambassadors. The return of Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei may signal a shift in China’s approach to such agreements amid rising geopolitical tensions.