Giant panda gifted to Taiwan by China dies

A elephantine panda talented by China to Taiwan successful 2008 has died aft a play of ill-health, Taipei Zoo has said.

Tuan Tuan and his breeding spouse Yuan Yuan were fixed to Taiwan erstwhile relations with China were much cordial.

But relations person soured since then, with Beijing - which has agelong regarded Taiwan arsenic a breakaway state - becoming much beligerent.

The zoo archetypal noticed Tuan Tuan was sick successful August erstwhile helium began suffering seizures.

Vets from China were called to analyse him, and scans showed helium had a encephalon lesion and helium was placed connected medication.

The 18-year-old bear's information became "irreversible" and helium could nary longer "live a prime life", a connection from the zoo said.

While the 2 bears were donated during a play of warmer relations betwixt the neighbours, their names combined really mean "reunion" oregon "unity" - a apt notation to China's tendency to reabsorb Taiwan 1 day.

China's President Xi Jinping views Taiwan arsenic portion of its territory, and successful a code past period opening the Communist enactment Congress successful Beijing, Mr Xi refused to regularisation retired utilizing unit to unify with Taiwan.

China has utilized its pandas to assistance foster diplomatic ties with countries for much than fractional a period and lone lends pandas to overseas zoos, which indispensable usually instrumentality immoderate offspring wrong a fewer years of their commencement to articulation the country's breeding programme.

Ever since the laminitis of China's Communist Party, Mao Zedong, utilized pandas arsenic a mode of entering into governmental discussions with different countries, the carnal has been a nationalist treasure.

After their accomplishment successful Taipei, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan became immense attractions and Yuan Yuan gave commencement to 2 pistillate cubs, Yuan Zaibap successful 2013 and Yuan Bao successful 2020.