Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement on 'Taiwan contingencies' has caused further deterioration in China-Japan relations. As the last two giant pandas residing in Japan are about to return to China, and with China possibly not leasing any new pandas to Japan, the topic 'Japan is about to have no giant pandas' has become a trending search on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
It is reported that there are currently only two giant pandas left in Japan, namely: 'Xiao Xiao' and 'Lei Lei' at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo.
At a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press conference in June this year, an Asahi TV reporter revealed that the two giant pandas at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo will return to China next February. By then, there will be no giant pandas in all of Japan.
According to Beijing Daily, LiaoNing University's visiting professor at the Japan Research Center, Chen Yang, stated: 'If the current tense situation between China and Japan continues, China might not lease any new giant pandas to Japan, and Japan will face a situation without any pandas nationwide.'
Giant pandas residing in Japan have always been loved by the Japanese public. Both countries have made positive achievements in panda breeding, scientific research, technical exchanges, and public education.
In April, Hiroshi Moriyama, President of the cross-party Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary Alliance (and Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party), and others visited China. During a meeting with Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, they expressed their wish to lease giant pandas. However, with China-Japan relations worsening recently due to Sanae Takaichi's comments involving Taiwan, it remains uncertain whether China will lease new pandas to Japan.