Taipei, Taiwan
China this week offered Taiwan two endangered giant pandas, saying it wanted to mark last week’s historic visit to Beijing by Taiwan’s opposition leader. “We hope the pandas, with their tame nature, air of nobility, and cuddly looks will bring joy and laughter to the Taiwan compatriots, children in particular,” said Chen Yunlin, head of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office. But the Taiwanese questioned China’s motives. “We feel that their gift of giant pandas is partly to further their political goal of unification,” said lawmaker Jao Yung-ching. Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bien said he could not accept the pandas because of international accords about protected animal species.
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