Thousands of people flocked to a zoo in Japan on Sunday to say farewell to the country's last two giant pandas, who are set to return to China on Tuesday.
Emotions ran high at the Ueno zoo in Tokyo as people stood in line – some for as long as three-and-a-half hours – to see twin cubs Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei one last time.
This comes at a very tense moment in relations between Tokyo and Beijing. Ties have sharply deteriorated after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that Tokyo would get involved militarily if China attacked Taiwan.
The twins' departure will leave Japan without any pandas for the first time since 1972, the year the two countries normalized diplomatic ties.
The People's Republic of China has utilized giant pandas as gestures of goodwill towards its international allies since it was founded in 1949. All pandas loaned to foreign countries remain the property of China, making their return an important diplomatic event.
According to Tokyo's metropolitan government, around 108,000 people vied for one of the 4,400 slots available to say goodbye to the beloved pandas. Many visitors expressed their sorrow at the impending departure, marking a significant emotional moment for the community.
Witnesses noted that visitors were not just honoring the pandas but also reflecting on the shifting landscape of Japan-China relations. The issues surrounding Taiwan have introduced new layers of complexity into what was once a straightforward cultural exchange.
Despite the pandas' departure and the tense political situation, the memories created and the joy shared over the years serve as a poignant reminder of the deeper connections forged through wildlife diplomacy.
