Peevish China recalls panda Tai Shan due to Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama
When China requested the return of a giant panda from the National Zoo in Washington, it was thought this was because the pandas back home were not producing enough babies.
But the departure of Tai Shan last week now seems to signify an end to the era of “panda diplomacy” — which dates back to 1972 after President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China.
President Barack Obama’s decision to meet the Dalai Lama this week has infuriated the Chinese at a time when the US desperately wants their support for sanctions against Iran and its nuclear programme. The Chinese government called on Obama to cancel the meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader, which comes as relations between the world’s first and third-biggest economies have deteriorated sharply.
Ma Zhaoxu, China’s foreign ministry spokesman, said there had been “stern” exchanges with the US on the matter.
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14 comments:
Didn't the Pandas bred and produce offspring in the DC zoo? Doesn't that make the offspring US citizens? They have a more legitimate right to be president than our "elected" Anointed One. They have "papers". And why would we allow them to be extradited to China for no crime when our southern states are inundated w/ illegal aliens?
So what is the story hear ?
Years and years of progress forging relations with the Chinese and Obama wrecks it in 12 months.
Somebody but Obama out to pasture, please!
I believe, but correct me if I'm wrong, that the original agreement of the Chinese "loan" of pandas was that offspring would be returned to China after a set period of time.
Tai Shan's return to China had nothing to due with Obama. His parents were loaned to the United States from China for 10 years in 2000 with the agreement that any offspring will be returned to China for breeding. His father, 11-year-old Tian Tian, and his mother, 10-year-old Mei Xiang, are due to be returned to China in December 2010.
Talk about creating something out of nothing. 10:01 is totally correct and China agreed to let Tai Shan stay one year longer than the original agreement.
If you're so correct, prove it. It's easy to get on here and make claims a national article is wrong. Bring it on.
Any Panda born here in the US is still the property of China. Since all Panda's in US zoos are here on loan, any of their offspring are supposed to go to China when they turn 2 yrs old. The National Zoo were granted two special request, which was also followed up with huge amounts of donations. The citizenship is much like how it is for our military. If a military family is stationed in Germany and have a child born in that country, that child is an American. Much like the Panda offspring. Born here but still belong to China.
I'm guilty of being one of those who's heart was broken to watch Tai Shan (DC panda) leave for China. I've watched him almost daily since he was born. There's just something addicting about pandas.
I also go as much as possible to see the bear in our own zoo. It's just not the same. Granted, our bear is old now so it doesn't move around much. When the two came here as cubs, I went every weekend to see them. I loved watching them on the rocks and in the water.
Here's your proof Joe.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579385,00.html
anonymous 10:53, that's for breeding.
Ok Joe, spin it however you'd like. Those who actually take time to read both articles will see that they are referencing the SAME panda. This handoff has been planned for years and was not unexpected.
If you visit the National Zoo's website, you will get the correct info about the Panda Loan program.
In part:
"How long will Mei, Tian, and Tai be at the National Zoo?
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian belong to China and are on a ten-year loan as part of a research, conservation and breeding program. This agreement expires in December 2010. National Zoo and Chinese officials will begin negotiations about their future in spring 2010."
"What will happen with any offspring?
Any baby born to Mei Xiang and Tian Tian would belong to China, and the Zoo would likely return the baby to China once it's old enough, so that it could become part of the breeding population there.
In April 2007, we were very happy to announce that Tai Shan will remain at the Zoo an additional two years past his second birthday, which was July 9, 2007.
In December 2009, the Zoo announced that he will be sent to China in early 2010, as per the Zoo's agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. He left the Zoo for China on February 4, 2010."
Just for my sake (because it's one of my biggest peeves):
pandas, not panda's ('s implies possession)
Ga head, break my heart.
they could recall worse...
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