Kuchikomi May. 15, 2008 - 09:12AM JST ( 13 )

Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Japan last week, provoking both pro- and anti-China protests nationwide. Although China and Japan have many political issues to discuss, such as the disputes over the gas field in the Japan Sea and the tainted gyoza, nothing was resolved. So it was somewhat of a surprise to see Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda mention China’s offer of two pandas as a major achievement of his summit with Hu.

The death of Ling Ling at Ueno Zoo in late April led more than 10,000 people to sign a book expressing their condolences. Hu told Fukuda that the Chinese government was prepared to lease a pair of giant pandas as ‘‘a symbol of Sino-Japanese friendship.’’

Fukuda said that he believed many people in Japan would be ‘‘overjoyed’’ by China’s offer and played down concerns that the bears were being used by China for political ends. ‘‘People who say that are a very, very small number. Most people want to see cute pandas, so we’re overjoyed,’’ Fukuda was quoted as saying.

China’s offer didn’t impress Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara. “Pandas are not God. If you want to see pandas, you can visit China. I don’t care if we don’t have them at Ueno Zoo,” he said.

Chiba Gov Akiko Domoto, likewise, was unimpressed, saying the offer of the pandas was an attempt by China to avoid responsibility for the gyoza scandal.

Critics say the “panda diplomacy” was the best political strategy for Fukuda in a difficult situation for him in dealing with China which has been under fire over Tibet. One official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, “As soon as the Cabinet Office heard about the death of Ling Ling, they right away ordered the ministry to prepare to ask China for new pandas at the top-level meeting.”

“That was actually what Hu wanted,” said journalist Akiyoshi Yamamura. “China makes use of precious animals like pandas as a trump card in politics more than just as a symbol of friendship. The Washington Treaty prohibits the trade of pandas, except for research purposes. For example, China offers pandas to Taiwan to create a fait accompli that it is part of China’s territory.”

Many people see the pandas as “presents,” but this is not true. Koichiro Okuno, vice president of Kobe City zoo which has two pandas said, “We pay $1 million to China’s animal association every year. That is the contribution to their research on wild animals.” 

Furthermore, the Japanese government wants India and China to join the G-8 summit in Hokkaido in July because the two countries will play an important role in climate talks. For this, Fukuda started unofficial negotiations with China as well as launching a Sino-Japan environmental fund to provide China with environmental technologies in return for its support at the summit.

A Foreign Ministry official says, “Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi decided that Japan would stop giving official development aid (ODA) to China after the Beijing Olympics. But China still wants it actually. Hence, Fukuda plans to continue to provide aid to China in the name of environmental protection in that country. Japan will give China more than 100 billion yen ultimately for that purpose. During the chaotic situation concerning the torch relay in Nagano, such a proposal would have provoked anti-China feelings among Japanese people. But with the panda’s death, Fukuda thinks it’s much easier to get national consensus.”

Pema Gyalpo, a professor of political science who was born in Tibet and has Japanese nationality, says, “Pandas are originally from a part of the Tibetan plateau, and they are Tibetan animals. China is using them as a political tool to divert criticism of its human rights violations in the country. Mr Fukuda should have said to Hu Jintao, ‘Animals are important. But human rights are also crucial.’” (Translated by Taro Fujimoto)