After Cupid's arrow shoots, date for panda couple to Taiwan yet to be decided

Although a pair of pandas have been selected, the Taiwan-bound giant pandas, bearing the wishes for peace and unity of the Chinese across the Taiwan Straits, do not know the day when they head for the island province.

After five-month selection, the Chinese mainland unveiled Friday the two giant pandas, No. 19 (male) and No. 16 (female) for Taiwan compatriots.

The panda couple were selected from among 23 candidates raised in the Wolong China Giant Panda Research Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, said Cao Qingyao, spokesman of the State Forestry Administration (SFA) at a press conference.

"We hope the couple can meet the Taiwan compatriots as soon as possible and the Taiwan authorities can follow the wishes of the people on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, acting in cooperation on this issue," said Dai Xiaofeng, head of the exchange bureau of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council (SCTAO) at the press conference.

"We also hope the Taiwan authorities can authorize an organization which will be responsible for discussing affairs about the Taiwan-bound giant panda couple with the wildlife protection departments on the Chinese mainland," said Cao.

The panda offer was made at the end of a historic visit to the Chinese mainland by former Chairman of Kuomintang (KMT) Lien Chan in last May, when Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the SCTAO, announced the mainland compatriots would present a pair of giant pandas to Taiwan compatriots as a symbol of peace, unity and friendship.

No. 19, the first son of the U.S.-returned star panda "Hua Mei", is one year and four months old, weighing 46 kg and his lover No. 16 is one month older than him, weighing 48 kg, said Cao, adding that the final selection was based on a three-month "trial marriage" which tested whether the couple were suited for each other.

The pandas were known at Wolong as "Xiaoguaiguai", meaning "little darling", and "Huangmao Yatou" for the unique brown fur, translating literally into "chit of a girl", said Zhang Hemin, director of the Wolong center and head of the nine-member expert group in charge of the selection work.

"The two are not only superior to their peers in appearance and health, they got on very well with each other in the trial marriage," said Zhang.

The mainland compatriots planned to offer a pair of giant pandas across the Straits in 1987, when the Beijing-based All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots adopted the motion of sending Taiwan a pair of giant pandas.

In 1990, the China Wildlife Conservation Association even chose two giant pandas, Ling Ling and Le Le, to offer to Taiwan compatriots.

The Taiwan authorities, which politicalized the panda donation, however, have not given a direct response to the panda present by the mainland compatriots.

The vogue attitude of the Taiwan authorities was overshadowed by a "panda craze" rising among the Taiwan residents after the latest announcement of panda offer in last May.

Surveys published by Taiwan media show that more than 70 percent of the respondents welcomed the coming of the giant pandas and another 20 percent showed no objection for the panda offer.

Yang Ziping and Zhu Yongli, a couple from Taiwan visited the Wolong China Giant Panda Research Center on the first day of 2006.

Self-claimed as giant panda fans, the couple in their forties adopted a pair of giant pandas from the center.

"We made a celebration at the news that a panda couple coming to Taiwan last May and we are looking forward to seeing them like many other people in Taiwan," said Yang Ziping, the husband.

"But though more than seven months have passed the exact date they are arriving on Taiwan has not been decided. We can't wait any more and that's why we are here," said Yang, a civil servant in Taipei.

In addition, the people at the sides of the Straits, especially netizens, were busy coming up with names for two giant pandas.

So far, the most popular names proposed in contests run by Chinese portals expressed the aspiration for peaceful reunification, such as "Tuan Tuan" and "Yuan Yuan", which make up the words for "reunion" -- or "tuan yuan" in Chinese.

Other popular names suggested for the couple include "He He" and "Ping Ping", meaning peace; and "Ai Ai" and "Guo Guo", meaning patriotism.

"Like the mainland compatriots, many Taiwan residents also prefer Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan as it bears a sense of tradition as well as fully reflects the wishes of the people at the sites of the Straits," said James Chang, secretary of a Taipei-based Chinese Cross-strait Giant Panda Care Conservation Interchange Association.

Several zoos in Taiwan have applied to provide a home for the new couple and eight other Taiwan airlines have expressed a willingness to become panda carriers, said Zhang.

Compared to the high spirits of others, Li Guo and Xu Yalin, the panda couple's keepers had mixed feelings.

"We are reluctant to let them go, but we hope they can bring laughter to the Taiwan compatriots together with our blessing," said Li Guo, a 25-year-old young man who has taken care of "Xiaoguaiguai" since he was born.

"We will take good care of them. If possible, I hope we can accompany them to Taiwan to help them adapt to life there," said Li.

"Who doesn't like pandas? I believe the day the panda couple arrives in Taiwan will come sooner or later," said Wang Xiaolin, a retired woman teacher from Leshan City, Sichuan Province.

Source: Xinhua