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High tensions with China, Japanese forced to say goodbye to two lone pandas

2026-01-26 18:51:45Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

High tensions with China, Japanese forced to say goodbye to two lone pandas

Many admirers are saying goodbye today to two hugely popular pandas at Tokyo Zoo, which are preparing to return to China, depriving the archipelago of these iconic animals for the first time in half a century.

Loaned as part of China's "panda diplomacy" program, these animals have symbolized friendship between Beijing and Tokyo since the normalization of their diplomatic relations in 1972.

High tensions with China, Japanese forced to say goodbye to two lone pandas

However, this departure comes amid high diplomatic tensions between the two neighboring powers.

Japan only had these two twin pandas – Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao – at the Tokyo Zoo in the Ueno district.

Zoo visitors were moved to tears as they watched the two pandas eat bamboo shoots.

High tensions with China, Japanese forced to say goodbye to two lone pandas

The pandas' unexpected return was announced last month after Japan's conservative prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, suggested that Tokyo could take military action in the event of an attack on Taiwan.

This statement provoked the anger of Beijing, which claims the island as part of its territory and has not ruled out occupying it by force.

"I think seeing pandas can help build bridges with China. That's why I really want them to come back to Japan," said Gen Takahashi, 39, a Tokyo resident who visited the zoo with his wife and their two-year-old daughter.

High tensions with China, Japanese forced to say goodbye to two lone pandas

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which manages the zoo, had previously indicated that the two iconic animals would be on public display until this Sunday.

The two pandas will leave Japan by plane two days later and are expected to arrive on January 28 at a facility in China where their older sister, Xiang Xiang, lives.

The 4,400 lucky winners of an online lottery were able to admire the four-year-old pandas in turn, while others, gathered near the zoo, proudly displayed panda-themed clothing, bags and plush toys.

High tensions with China, Japanese forced to say goodbye to two lone pandas

Mayuko Sumida traveled for several hours from the Aichi region in central Japan in the hope of seeing them, even though she didn't win the lottery.

"I'm completely devastated. Japan will be left without any pandas. It's quite sad," Mayuko said.

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