China finally found a home for the four animals Taiwan agreed to give Beijing in exchange for the two giant pandas Beijing gave Taipei during the second round of official cross-strait talks in November last year.
Beijing offered Taiwan two pandas during former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan’s (連戰) trip to China in 2005. The government of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) objected to the idea because China considered the offer of the pandas a “domestic transfer” between zoos.
However, the Council of Agriculture approved the gift shortly after President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took office on May 20 last year and they are housed in the Taipei City Zoo.
PHOTO: CNA
Taiwan in return offered to give Beijing a pair of Formosan sika deer and a pair of Formosan serow. However, no word had been heard on where they would be housed since the announcement was made in November last year during the meeting between Straits Exchange Foudation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) and his Chinese counterpart, Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林).
Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Deputy Ministry Liu Te-shun (劉德勳) yesterday said that the Chinese government has chosen a forest park in Weihai (威海市), Shandong Province, as the home for the four animals after screening many potential locations.
SEF spokesman Maa Shaw-chang (馬紹章) said the selection took so long because of Beijing’s careful assessments of the possible venues, temperatures and potential caretakers.
The news was announced after a meeting between Chiang and Chen yesterday morning.
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