Summary
Japan is sending its last two giant pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, back to China amid tense relations between the countries. Many people gathered at a Tokyo zoo to say goodbye to the pandas, marking the first time since 1972 that Japan will be without any pandas. This move comes as diplomatic ties between Japan and China worsen due to Japan's stance on Taiwan.
Key Facts
- Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei are twin giant pandas born in 2021 in Japan.
- The pandas are returning to China as a long-standing rule states that China owns all pandas on loan to other countries.
- Thousands of people queued for hours at Ueno Zoo to see the pandas before they leave.
- Japan will not have any pandas for the first time since 1972, the year Japan and China established formal diplomatic relations.
- Tensions between Japan and China have risen following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan.
- China often uses pandas as diplomatic gifts, but retains ownership of them.
- More than 108,000 people competed for 4,400 viewing slots to see the pandas.
- China's panda loans sometimes coincide with trade negotiations, like a 2011 deal with the UK.
