The news of the passing of Tuantuan prompted Weibo to be taken by storm with trending search terms and hashtags. Many Chinese citizens were mourning the loss of the Giant Panda, whose name they chose when they were much younger.

The naming of the two pandas was selected at the 2006 China Central Television Spring Festival Gala (春晚), after receiving text messages and telephone votes from 130 million viewers in China.

#Taiwan #China #團團 #TuanTuan

The importation of endangered species, is governed by CITES (also known as the Washington convention). Taiwan is not a CITES signatory.

The CITES Secretariat viewed the importation as an internal affair between Beijing and Taipei and thus not requiring this importation to be governed by the convention.

In the end, the pandas were a huge success in Taiwan, attracting more than 30,000 visitors a day, together with merchandise and bus liveries.

#Taiwan #團團 #TuanTuan

However, after KMT President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008, he pushed for stronger ties with Beijing (again met with controversy and DPP criticism), ultimately leading to the acceptance of the pandas.

#Taiwan #團團 #TuanTuan

The importation of these pandas were a huge controversy in Taiwan, and the DPP, and then President Chen Shui-bian pushed against it, citing Beijing propaganda. They were initially rejected on grounds of incompatibility with resource requirements.

#Taiwan #團團 #TuanTuan

Given vet report that giant panda Tuan Tuan died of a brain tumour over a month ago, good reminder that Tuan Tuan 團團 and Yuan Yuan 圓圓, both of which were gifts from China, when put together mean 團圓 or “reunion” https://www.taiwanplus.com/highlights/221220006

#Taiwan #China #tuantuan #團團

Pandas vertragen die Spannungen in dieser Welt nicht gut. Sie können sie spüren und es macht sie krank.

RIP Tuan Tuan 🙁

https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/tiere/geschenk-chinas-panda-tuan-tuan-im-zoo-taipeh-gestorben-18473708.html

#TuanTuan #Taipeh #Taiwan #China

"It is #tragic that #pandas, one of the world’s most #vulnerable #species, are being #used by #China as #diplomatic #tools — China resumed its #pandadiplomacy last month by gifting a pair of pandas to #Qatar before the #FIFA #WorldCup. That #TuanTuan’s #death is being used by some people in #Taiwan to incite #hatred adds to the #tragedy, when it could be an #opportunity to #educate about #life and #death."

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2022/11/27/2003789664

"It is #tragic that #pandas, one of the world’s most #vulnerable #species, are being used by #China as #diplomatic #tools — China resumed its panda diplomacy last month by gifting a pair of pandas to #Qatar before the #FIFA #WorldCup. That #TuanTuan’s death is being used by some people in #Taiwan to incite hatred adds to the #tragedy, when it could be an opportunity to #educate about #life and #death."

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2022/11/27/2003789664