A panda gifted to Taiwan by China 14 years ago as a sign of previous closer ties passed away on Saturday after having seizures, according to the Taipei Zoo.
Beijing presented Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan to Taiwan in late 2008, when the relationship between the two countries was at its greatest. China claims Taiwan to be a portion of its territory and has pledged to someday reclaim the democratically self-governing island, using violence if necessary.
“Our medical team has confirmed that Tuan Tuan’s heart stopped beating at 13.48 (0548 GMT),” in a statement to the media, the zoo stated. The staff concluded to "let Tuan Tuan continue to sleep" as the findings suggest the panda's health was "irreversible" and that he could no longer "live a quality life," according to zoo authorities. The panda had undergone heavy anaesthesia earlier on Saturday for CT scans.
“It would have been extremely painful and risky for Tuan Tuan to resuscitate him from the anaesthesia,” Eric Tsao, a representative, said.
When Tuan Tuan, 18, started having seizures and became more unstable and fatigued in August, veterinarians first became aware that he was ill. He was given anti-seizure medicine after scans revealed that he had brain injuries. Tuan Tuan was placed in palliative care the previous month when the zoo believed he had a tumour.
More frequently than before, the seizures have reappeared in the last several days, and medication was unable to help alleviate the symptoms.
On Instagram, Taipei mayor Ko Wen-Je praised the panda for "bringing happiness to Taiwanese people and making Taipei zoo more wonderful" as admirers grieved Tuan Tuan's passing.
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Taiwan's primary authority for drafting China's policy, appreciated the panda's contribution to improved relations with Beijing.
Tuan Tuan “let everyone know more about giant pandas and help promote exchanges between the two sides … MAC is saddened that he has passed away”, the statement read. The panda duo, whose names together stand for "reunion" or "unity," were well-known in Taiwan. Two female cubs have been born to Yuan Yuan.
The contribution of Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan was considered as supporting the presidency of the then-Beijing-friendly leader Ma Ying-jeou, as China has historically used "panda diplomacy." Beijing typically only rents pandas to international zoos if they can return any cubs to Beijing within a couple of years after the delivery of the animal to participate in the nation's breeding program.
However, Taiwan was given a free pass as a portion of China's brief charm offensive in the 2000s, with Beijing completely granting both the Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan as well as any descendants.
Since 2016, formal interactions connecting China and Taiwan have been cut off, and official meetings between the two sides have ceased.
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