Chiba governor says people shouldn't be fooled by China's panda offer

Friday 09th May, 05:40 AM JST

CHIBA —

The governor of Chiba Prefecture, where seven people fell sick after eating Chinese-made frozen dumplings several months ago, said Thursday that people should not be fooled by China’s recent offer to lease two giant pandas to Japan—news that has grabbed the headlines. Gov Akiko Domoto apparently expressed her frustration over official investigations in the two countries that have yet to pin down how the ‘‘gyoza’’ dumpling products came to be tainted with a pesticide before being eaten by the seven people in Chiba. Three others in Hyogo Prefecture also fell sick after eating the gyoza produced at a Chinese factory.

At a news conference, Domoto touched on visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao’s panda offer and said, ‘‘It just won’t do if it is thought that pandas can fool us. Be it the gyoza case or the oil (gas) field problem, it is high time that the countries that exercise political leadership in Asia held talks squarely to move in the right direction,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s better not to let pandas fool us.’’

15 Comments

some14some at 08:16 AM JST - 9th May

Good advice but hope she is aware that Panda request came from J-Govt.
Altria at 10:02 AM JST - 9th May

So basically, China is just pandering to Japan?
medievaltimes at 10:34 AM JST - 9th May

Be it the gyoza case or the oil (gas) field problem, it is high time that the countries that exercise political leadership in Asia held talks squarely to move in the right direction

"Right direction" meaning Japan's view of things.
reddragonguy at 10:37 AM JST - 9th May

oh come on madam! Even you are ungrateful this is a duty must do! Japan has been fooled by CHina for 36 years...whats made difference if accepting pandas,the hoax has begun and it has to comply to forever,you know sino Japanese friendships does matter the prosperity of asia and of course the security! Keep smiling
tkoind2 at 10:39 AM JST - 9th May

China needs to fix a lot of things. So does Japan. I agree with our Chiba governor that China's pr efforts lately should not overshadow the real issues with China. That includes their ongoing poor human rights and illegal occupation of sovereign states.

Fact is as long as the major corporations are making money hand over fist in China, governments in Asia will not do anything major to truly anger or alienate China. So it is up to the public to apply pressure on issues with China.

Now on the Japan side, Japan should start doing more not to be idiotic about things like Yasukuni and try being a lot more foreigner friendly to Asians and others living and working here.

Lots of work to be done on both sides of the water.
reddragonguy at 10:45 AM JST - 9th May

The consequences of ungrateful to China's offering pandas means wars,this is a very foolish thing and that was certainly a pity! And if anyone cannot imagine this were 'fools'!
amerijap at 11:07 AM JST - 9th May

I'm not sure if the governor really meant Chinese president's offer of animal gift-giving as an appeasement of Japanese anger over the contaminated foods. Yet, he's right. Gift-giving is a means of maintaining/showing diplomatic courtship between the two countries, while the food poising issue is couched on politics as well as international economics & trade. They should be treated separately.
reddragonguy at 11:19 AM JST - 9th May

If japan can bringing up the gyoza poisioning to stage. The Chinese can bringing up those toxic gas shells leaking leave by the Japanese army in WW2.... So can you imagine the stability of asia?
thedeath at 11:28 AM JST - 9th May

panda eat gyoza? if so why not feed it with made it china gyoza?
tclh at 11:56 AM JST - 9th May

Gyoza is food,Panda is cute animal for watching, not food.Japan should be grateful to China,says "thank you" and then eat Japanse food.Why link these two ?May be she worries that Japanese people go crazy on Panda and forget everything else including paying tax to her?Ha ha.
stubar at 12:54 PM JST - 9th May

The Governor's response is totally irrelevant. Leasing the pandas was not a response to poisoned food/ products but a small act of good will. Of course the poisoning and quality problems need to be addressed but responses like this won't do a bit of good.
Hughgarse at 04:06 PM JST - 9th May

‘‘It’s better not to let pandas fool us.’’

this chick is as bright as sunlight... what a nutter!
gdx9902 at 05:20 PM JST - 9th May

Good Grief,

I cant believe the Governor is taking this panda thing to be more that what it is. Anyone who is in business and has done business with and in China knows this is just a formality, nothing more. Gifts are given in exchange after a meeting usually, but in this case since its a high profile one, they probably did it, to send everyone else to a frenzy
OssanULTRA at 03:49 AM JST - 10th May

Pretty dumb. Obviously the Panda has nothing to do with the politics or even national sentiment. China didsn't ask for Lingling back while their people were conducting anti-japan demonstrations in 2005, did they?
illsayit at 10:55 PM JST - 12th May

I wish theyd choose a better gift, animals take looking after. Personally I dont like pandas, but I do like China. And I dont like the Chiba governor, perhaps she feels intimidated by the pandas-that they could be lazier than her.