The beloved giant pandas are leaving Japan, marking the end of an era of 'panda diplomacy' and signaling a deep chill in relations between Tokyo and Beijing.
Even before Ueno Zoo in Tokyo officially opens its doors, a crowd of eager visitors is already gathered, their cameras clicking in front of murals depicting the zoo's most cherished residents. Nearby, the gift shop is buzzing with activity, offering everything from plush pandas and stationery to T-shirts and tasty treats, all celebrating the stars of the show.
These devoted fans have come to bid farewell to Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei. These twin pandas, born at the zoo in 2021, are technically on loan from China. Early next week, they will embark on a journey from Tokyo's Narita airport back to China. There, they will enter a quarantine period before being reunited with their sister, Xiang Xiang, at a specialized conservation and research center located in Sichuan province.
Their departure will undoubtedly leave a void for their many Japanese admirers. More significantly, it reflects a sharp deterioration in the diplomatic ties between China and Japan. This marks the first time since 1972 that Japan will be without a giant panda. That year was pivotal, as Tokyo and Beijing normalized their diplomatic relationship, nearly three decades after the conclusion of World War II.
Since that historic normalization, China has generously loaned over 30 giant pandas – an endangered species – to zoos across Japan. These gentle giants have captured the hearts of countless animal lovers, and their eventual return has always brought a pang of sadness.
This remarkable panda diplomacy has weathered many storms, including shifts in Chinese leadership, the rise of more assertive political figures in Japan, and even an ongoing territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands (known as the Diaoyu in China). These uninhabited islands in the East China Sea are administered by Japan but claimed by China.
But here's where it gets controversial: The future of Taiwan has become the unexpected challenge to this long-standing tradition of panda diplomacy.
Japan's conservative prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has taken a firm stance, suggesting she might deploy Japan's self-defense forces in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. She has described such a scenario as an "existential threat" to Japan. These remarks, reportedly made spontaneously before a parliamentary committee in November, provoked an outraged response from China, which accused Takaichi of meddling in its internal affairs.
Following this diplomatic spat, Chinese tourism to Japan has plummeted. Beijing has advised its citizens against traveling to the country, and various cultural exchanges and events designed to foster closer bilateral ties have been canceled or postponed. Now, these heightened tensions have even extended to the animal kingdom.
Despite earnest requests from the Tokyo metropolitan government for replacement pandas, Chinese authorities have indicated there are no current plans to send new pandas to Ueno Zoo. A Chinese expert, quoted by the state-controlled Beijing Daily, recently stated, "If tensions between Japan and China persist, China may refrain from new loans, and pandas may no longer be seen in Japan."
Visitors who were fortunate enough to secure tickets through an extremely competitive online lottery expressed their disappointment that the zoo's enduring relationship with pandas seems to be drawing to a close, at least for now. One woman, who traveled from Saitama prefecture, lamented, "It’s such a shame this is the last time I’ll be able to see them. It feels like we’re being picked on by the Chinese government."
And this is the part most people miss: A genuine thaw in relations, which could pave the way for a resumption of panda diplomacy, appears unlikely as long as Beijing and Tokyo remain locked in a heated dispute over Taiwan. Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, is viewed by China as a renegade province that must eventually be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.
Professor Rumi Aoyama, an expert in Japan-China relations at Waseda University in Tokyo, explains, "Giant pandas function mainly as symbols of Sino-Japanese friendship rather than as drivers of bilateral relations. Their presence here doesn’t in itself advance ties, and nor does their return to China undermine them. Instead, they serve as indicators of the broader state of relations between the two countries."
While the pandas' symbolic role offers little comfort to their devoted fans in Japan, their impact has been immense. Over 7.6 million people visited Ueno Zoo when Kang Kang and Lan Lan, the very first giant pandas loaned by China, arrived 50 years ago. The zoo staff were visibly heartbroken when Ling Ling, a male panda who had resided there since 1992, passed away in April 2008.
The prospects for renewed panda loans, which are governed by the Washington Convention on the trade in endangered species, dimmed further this week when Prime Minister Takaichi announced a snap general election for next month. Her unwavering stance against Chinese demands to retract her Taiwan remarks has contributed to her high approval ratings, a key factor in her decision to call an early election for the lower house.
Professor Aoyama anticipates, "I don’t expect (Takaichi) to take any action before the election. China has raised the bar by demanding a retraction of her statement, a condition Japan is unlikely to accept. As a result, there is little room for Japan to make any moves ahead of the election."
Emotions are expected to be at an all-time high this Sunday, as the final group of lottery winners gather at Ueno Zoo to bid the pandas a final farewell. The zoo experienced a significant surge in visitors as soon as the pandas' departure was announced last month, with some enduring waits of up to six hours for a final glimpse.
Since mid-December, daily access has been capped at 4,800 people, strictly by reservation only. A lottery system was implemented to manage the overwhelming demand during the pandas' final 12 days in Japan. Among this week's lottery winners was a woman who shared her deep affection for the animals, having first seen them at a zoo near her home in Kobe. "I know the diplomatic situation is sensitive, but it’s frustrating that pandas have become mixed up in it," she admitted. When asked if she would accept the Chinese foreign ministry's invitation to visit the twins in their new home, she firmly replied, "Absolutely not."
Meanwhile, visitors without lottery tickets patiently queued for photos with lifelike panda models. Banners featuring one of the zoo's beloved residents, captured mid-chew on a piece of bamboo, carried a poignant message: "Thank you, Xiao Xiao."
What are your thoughts on this situation? Do you believe that pandas, as symbols, should be insulated from political tensions, or do they inherently become pawns in international relations? Share your views in the comments below!
