Twin pandas to return to China amid diplomatic tensions with Japan
BEIJING, Jan 21: Japan’s much-loved twin pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, are set to be sent back to China next week, highlighting the impact of the ongoing diplomatic spat between Beijing and Tokyo.
The Ueno Zoo in Tokyo announced that the pandas would depart on January 27 and arrive at a Chinese facility on January 28, where their elder sister, Xiang Xiang, is housed.
This marks the first time in nearly half a century, since pandas were first sent to Japan in 1972 to celebrate the normalization of diplomatic ties, that the country will be without pandas—a long-standing symbol of Japan-China friendship.
Born in 2021 to mother Shin Shin and father Ri Ri, both on loan from China for breeding research, the cubs remain Chinese property despite being born in Japan.
Under the lease agreement, all offspring born abroad must be returned to China, and zoos pay significant annual fees, estimated at around USD 1 million, for conservation and care. The final viewing day at Ueno Zoo attracted overwhelming interest, with online applications exceeding available slots by 24.6 times.
The pandas’ repatriation comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November remarks on Taiwan, which angered Beijing.
The Chinese government has indicated that it is unlikely to provide replacement pandas in light of the dispute, leaving Japan temporarily without the beloved animals.
Panda loans have long served as a tool of Chinese “panda diplomacy,” used to strengthen international relationships, with Beijing providing pandas to about 20 countries worldwide under strict agreements and supervision.
Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei have become much more than zoo animals in Japan—they symbolize cultural and diplomatic ties, attract tourism, and hold emotional significance for the public.
Their departure underscores the way wildlife, popular fascination, and international relations can intersect, particularly when disputes arise between nations. While their repatriation follows existing legal and lease agreements, it also highlights how geopolitical tensions can influence symbolic gestures of goodwill.
For the Japanese public, the absence of the pandas will be a noticeable and emotional gap, reflecting the broader strains in Japan-China relations and the uncertain future of panda diplomacy. (AP)
