The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday denounced “Taiwan independence” separatist forces for what it described as their routine attempts to discredit cross-Straits exchanges. The office called their effort to politicize an animal exchange program between the Shanghai and Taipei zoos “absurd and ridiculous.”
As per the 2024 cooperation memorandum of the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum, the Shanghai Zoo and Taipei Zoo agreed to exchange two red pandas for black-footed penguins. A handover ceremony for the red pandas on June 5 at the Shanghai Zoo garnered significant attention and positive feedback from netizens on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.
However, some Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) politicians alleged that the twin cities forum would become a “breach” for “infiltration.” In response, Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han stated at Wednesday’s media briefing that the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum is a crucial institutionalized platform for exchanges between the two cities, playing a significant and positive role in fostering cooperation across various
sectors.
Zhang highlighted enthusiastic comments from netizens on both sides of the Straits, such as “Cute animals serve as a bridge across the sea, warmth rides the wind across the Taiwan Straits.” She emphasized that animal conservation exchanges bring warmth, not confrontation, and are highly beneficial, with more such activities being preferable. She added that increased interaction and exchanges reflect the shared aspirations of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.
“We will, as always, support exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including between cities across the Straits, to continuously enhance the well-being of people on both sides and promote deeper spiritual bonds between compatriots across the Taiwan Straits,” Zhang affirmed.
Zhang reiterated that “Taiwan independence” separatist forces habitually discredit cross-Straits exchanges by portraying them as “breaches for infiltration.” She said their latest attempt to exploit the red pandas for political gain is particularly absurd and ridiculous.
