Japan returns pandas to China amid strained ties

[ad_1] Kelly Ng and

Shaimaa Khalil , Tokyo correspondent

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/50cf/live/bd569d60-fa60-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/50cf/live/bd569d60-fa60-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/50cf/live/bd569d60-fa60-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/50cf/live/bd569d60-fa60-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/50cf/live/bd569d60-fa60-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/50cf/live/bd569d60-fa60-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/50cf/live/bd569d60-fa60-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/50cf/live/bd569d60-fa60-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="EPA Giant panda Lei Lei eats bamboo at Ueno Zoological Gardens in Tokyo" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> EPA Twin cubs Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei will return to China on Tuesday

Hundreds of individuals flocked to a zoo in Japan on Sunday to say farewell to the nation's final two big pandas, who're set to return to China on Tuesday.

Feelings ran excessive on the Ueno zoo in Tokyo as individuals stood in line – some for so long as three-and-a-half hours – to see twin cubs Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei one final time.

This comes at a really tense second in relations between Tokyo and Beijing. Ties have sharply deteriorated after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated Tokyo would get entangled militarily if China attacked Taiwan.

The twins' departure will go away Japan with none pandas for the primary time since 1972, the 12 months the 2 international locations normalised diplomatic ties.

The Individuals's Republic of China has used big pandas as a gesture of goodwill in the direction of its worldwide allies and opponents because it was based in 1949.

However China retains possession of all pandas it loans to international international locations, together with cubs born overseas. In return, host international locations pay an annual charge of about $1m (£790,000) per pair of pandas.

In response to Tokyo's metropolitan authorities, some 108,000 individuals vied to get one of many 4,400 slots obtainable for one final take a look at the zoo's beloved pandas.

"I've been bringing my son right here since he was a child, so I hope it turns into reminiscence for him. I am glad we may come right now to recollect them," one girl advised the BBC.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/cccf/live/8391d670-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/cccf/live/8391d670-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/cccf/live/8391d670-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/cccf/live/8391d670-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/cccf/live/8391d670-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/cccf/live/8391d670-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/cccf/live/8391d670-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/cccf/live/8391d670-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Xinhua A woman places her hand against her face as she sobs" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Xinhua Feelings ran excessive on the Ueno zoo in Tokyo as followers bade the dual cubs farewell

One other girl recalled witnessing the pandas' development journey. "Witnessing their development, particularly since they had been so small, has been such a pleasure," she stated.

Some guests had been pictured sobbing as they bade the bears goodbye.

Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei had been born in 2021 on the Ueno zoo to their mom Shin Shin and their father Ri Ri, each of whom had been on mortgage to Japan for breeding analysis.

Extra just lately, China's panda loans have coincided with main commerce agreements. In 2011, the mortgage of two pandas to Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland was agreed throughout negotiations over contracts to produce salmon meat, Land Rover autos and vitality expertise to China.

Many pandas have been returned to China lately – a mortgage settlement usually lasts 10 years though extensions are widespread.

Nonetheless, the prospects of a brand new panda mortgage to Japan have remained unsure amid the escalating row .

Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi's feedback on Taiwan angered Beijing which views the self-governed island as a part of its territory and has not dominated out using power to "reunite" with it.

Either side have since engaged in more and more hostile actions and rhetoric in the direction of one another. Early this month, China tightened restrictions on exports of uncommon earth-related merchandise to Japan.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/bad6/live/40e55b30-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/bad6/live/40e55b30-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bad6/live/40e55b30-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/bad6/live/40e55b30-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/bad6/live/40e55b30-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/bad6/live/40e55b30-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/bad6/live/40e55b30-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bad6/live/40e55b30-fa61-11f0-aace-f5c9843bc6d7.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Thousands of people wait in line to take a last look at twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei on their final public viewing day at Ueno Zoological Gardens in Tokyo on 25 January. The visitors are clad in winter wear and many also have masks on." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Pictures Some 108,000 individuals vied to get one of many 4,400 slots to see the pandas