Chinese State Media: "If Based on Goodwill, Not Politicization, It Positively Affects Bilateral Friendship"
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has requested the lease of a giant panda from officials in Sichuan Province, China, amid local opinions emphasizing the importance of maintaining a 'non-political' approach. While showing a positive attitude that the panda can promote goodwill and mutual benefits between the two countries, they repeatedly stressed that it should not be used for political purposes.
On the 18th, China's state-run Global Times (GT) reported, "Just three months after the giant panda Fu Bao returned to China from Korea, another panda has been requested in Seoul," citing analysts' assessments that "if panda conservation cooperation can continue based on goodwill rather than politicization, it will have a positive impact on the friendship and exchanges between the two countries."
It is known that Mayor Oh met with Tian Xiangli, Chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Political Consultative Conference, at the mayor's office on the 15th and expressed his intention to lease a panda. Whether the Chinese side will accept this is uncertain. The lease of pandas is under the authority of the Chinese central government, not Sichuan Province, so related permits and approvals are required.
Lv Chao, a researcher on Korean Peninsula issues at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, explained, "There is no doubt that if the two countries can continue cooperation related to pandas, exchanges between the two countries and bonds between their peoples will be strengthened." Zhao Songsheng, manager of WeWeilai, a panda conservation NGO based in Chengdu, said, "Cooperation on pandas plays an important role as a platform to promote people-to-people exchanges between countries and build mutual trust," adding, "It will be an important catalyst in strengthening the friendly relations between the two countries."
However, there is intense controversy online. Some netizens expressed concerns that "pandas could be used for political purposes," warning that "this could rather harm the friendship and exchanges between the peoples of the two countries and provoke nationalist sentiments." Manager Zhao emphasized, "It is important to maintain a non-political approach in all aspects of cooperation related to pandas," and added, "Mechanisms and regulations to strengthen exchanges should be established."
GT pointed out, "Since Fu Bao returned to China in April, rumors have spread in Korea that the Chinese side mistreated Fu Bao," noting, "This was an expression of dissatisfaction toward China by some forces, but these minority opinions do not represent the majority."
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