Chinese vets have been invited by Taiwan to visit Tuan Tuan, a dying giant panda, who was donated by Beijing during a more lenient diplomatic time between the two sides.
Tuan Tuan, and his partner Yuan Yuan, whose names mean "
unity
" or "
reunion
" in Chinese, were offered in 2008 by China to Taiwan, which it considers to be part of its territory, to symbolize the improvement of their relations today at rock bottom.
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The Taipei Zoo said Chinese veterinarians would stay for seven days to observe the panda's condition.
The date of their arrival is not yet known but the authorities said on Wednesday that the establishment of visas was in progress.
"Panda Mania"
The vets “
expressed their desire to personally come and see Tuan Tuan.
I think it will be a very meaningful trip
,” Taipei Zoo official Eve Wang told reporters.
Generally, Beijing lends its pandas and any offspring must be sent to China, as part of "
panda diplomacy
", a gift that China uses to strengthen ties with other countries.
The arrival of the couple who had been offered in 2008 had sparked a real "
panda mania
" across the island, especially after the birth of baby panda Yuan Zai.
Pressures against the island
The island and the mainland have been governed separately since 1949, but the communist regime claims sovereignty over Taiwan.
Since the 2016 election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, China has ruled out any offer to negotiate with Taiwan and stepped up pressure against an island it still sees as a rebel province slated to return to its mother's fold. homeland, by force if necessary.
Tensions between Taiwan and China reached their highest level in years in August, when Beijing staged massive and unprecedented military maneuvers to protest against a trip to the island of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. , Nancy Pelosi.
