Tokyo Decides to Return Twin Pandas Early
Uncertain Prospects for New Panda Loans Amid Japan-China Tensions
Amid escalating political tensions between Japan and China, the last two giant pandas remaining in Japan will return to China in late January next year. On December 15, Yonhap News, citing Japanese media such as the Asahi Shimbun, reported that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has decided to return the twin giant pandas currently housed at Ueno Zoo to China ahead of schedule. The pandas to be returned are the male "Xiaoxiao" and the female "Leilei." The original return deadline was February 20 next year, but after discussions between the Japanese government and China, the return will be moved up by about a month. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to announce the specific return schedule soon.
The Asahi Shimbun reported, "Japan has requested new panda loans from China, but the prospects are unclear," adding, "If the two pandas are returned without additional loans, it will mark the first time since 1972 that pandas will disappear from Japan." Xiaoxiao and Leilei were born at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo in June 2021 and have received much love from the public. They became the last pandas remaining in Japan after Adventure World in Wakayama Prefecture returned all four pandas it was housing to China in June of this year as part of the "Giant Panda Conservation Joint Project" with China. The twins' parents, "Lili" and "Xingxing," also returned to China in September last year.
The possibility of new pandas being loaned to Japan before the twins are returned is considered low. Analysts point out that this is particularly due to the deterioration in China-Japan relations after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mentioned the possibility of intervention in the event of a Taiwan contingency on November 7. Pandas were first introduced to Japan in 1972 after the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan. China has continued so-called "panda diplomacy," gifting or loaning giant pandas, which are native only to China, as symbols of diplomatic goodwill. However, the agreement stipulates that even pandas born overseas must be returned to China when they reach adulthood, around the age of four. Fubao, who was born in Korea, also returned to China last year under the same contract.
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