Pandas Exit, Taiwan Enters as Shirahama Charts New Course
このページを 日本語 で読む
Shirahama Mayor Yasuhiro Oe has been giving serious thought to the town's future. Rather than lamenting the return of all four giant pandas from its well-known leisure facility, Adventure World, he's turning his focus toward a broader vision. The pandas are set to leave for China at the end of June, taking with them one of Shirahama's most iconic tourist attractions.
In an interview with The Sankei Shimbun , Oe, formerly a member of the House of Councillors, outlined his intention to strengthen ties with Taiwan. "I want to engage with regions that share our values," he said.
Read part one here
It probably did. Nikai had such close ties to China that some said he could meet with President Xi Jinping more easily than even Japan's prime minister. If he were still in office, I doubt China would have made Adventure World return all the pandas simply because the contract had ended.
Actually, on the night of April 24, right after the news broke, a Diet member friend called and said, "Moriyama and Yuko Obuchi are heading to China over Golden Week (the end of April). Should we ask them to request an extension for you?" I appreciated the offer, but I declined and said, "No, thank you."
Because I don't believe we must absolutely get the pandas back. If Adventure World had asked for help lobbying for an extension, that would be one thing. But ultimately, this is a matter between Adventure World and China. During talks with Adventure World, I also sensed they didn't want to become politically involved in this issue. Hiroshi Moriyama (far right), chair of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League, shakes hands with Liu Jianchao, head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department. Beijing, April 28. (Pool photograph)
I believe the timing was intentional. China likely wanted to maintain control of the situation and preserve its political leverage. Nevertheless, the shock was very real. During Golden Week, crowds rushed to see the pandas one last time before their departure.
This past April, a Chinese Communist Party official from Chenghua visited and expressed interest in formalizing the partnership. I told them, "That could be difficult." I have no intention of pursuing a full sister-city relationship.
My hope lies with Taiwan. It's a country that shares Japan's core values: freedom, democracy, and human rights. I want to build ties with partners who uphold those principles. Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (©Sankei by Kiyoshi Ouchi)
I'm planning to visit Taiwan and meet with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim on May 22. We've known each other since my days in the Diet. I intend to explain Shirahama's situation and ask her directly for support."
As long as I'm mayor of Shirahama, I'll accept the reality that we no longer have pandas. I have no intention of asking the Ishiba administration to bring them back. But if Taiwan is willing to support us in other ways, I'd welcome that wholeheartedly."
Author: Shimpei Okuhara, The Sankei Shimbun
このページを 日本語 で読む
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Forward
4 days ago
- Japan Forward
China Rising, America Retrenching: Japan Must Stand on Its Own
このページを 日本語 で読む Staying true to its "America First" agenda, the Donald Trump administration has ramped up pressure on elite Ivy League institutions like Harvard University. Pointing to violent protests and a rise in antisemitism linked to pro-Palestinian activism, the government has taken a hardline stance. It is cracking down on students, pushing for changes to diversity-driven admissions policies, and moving to freeze subsidies and terminate contracts. On May 30, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed American diplomatic missions to screen visa applicants, students, faculty, and guest speakers affiliated with Harvard for social media posts containing antisemitic content. At the same time, the US began revoking visas for Chinese international students conducting research in sensitive fields authorities believe have ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). That same month, the US House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party sent a formal inquiry to Harvard's president. The letter sought details about exchanges and donations involving the CCP, citing reports that members of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, accused of involvement in the Uyghur genocide, had taken part in Harvard training programs. It also raised concerns about Chinese universities linked to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) participating in research funded by the US Department of Defense. Tomoko Ako, Professor at the University of Tokyo Harvard also openly accepts the children of high-ranking Chinese officials. The daughter of President Xi Jinping and the son of the disgraced Bo Xilai both graduated from Harvard. As globalization advances and the world becomes increasingly interconnected, tensions between nations are rising. These are often fueled by deteriorating diplomatic relations, territorial disputes, economic sanctions, and cyberattacks. People, goods, capital, and information are actively flowing across borders. Yet, we are seeing more and more situations where the true nature of "exchanges" with adversarial countries and regions must be called into question. You may have come across the story of a Chinese student who recently delivered a commencement speech at Harvard while dressed in hanfu , traditional Han Chinese attire. In her speech, the Chinese student recalled an episode from her internship in Mongolia. A friend interning in Tanzania reached out to her, unable to read the Chinese characters on a washing machine. Sharing this anecdote, she declared that the world was "becoming a small village," and repeatedly emphasized the idea of "shared humanity." When rendered in Chinese, the phrase closely echoes Xi Jinping's slogan: "a community with a shared future for mankind." Her speech quickly went viral on Chinese social media, where comment sections were filled with prideful remarks like, "The voice of a community with a shared future for mankind is echoing across the Harvard campus." While she received widespread praise on Chinese platforms, criticism emerged from some overseas Chinese communities. Much of the backlash stemmed from the fact that she had been admitted to Harvard Kennedy School with a recommendation from the head of a government-affiliated organization, one that appears to be a private entity on the surface. Adding to the skepticism, the first Chinese media outlet to report on her speech published the story in its Political Affairs section. I recently translated an article by a Chinese intellectual who offered a critical analysis of the case. The author argued that the CCP deliberately sends young people like her to study at top American universities as part of a broader strategic effort. Beneath the feel-good narrative of a "small village," the author pointed to signs of large-scale bribery, debt diplomacy, and the exploitation of Chinese laborers working in harsh conditions with confiscated passports. They posed an incisive question: "Can we really call this a 'small village' when cheap Chinese-made washing machines flood the African market at the cost of human rights abuses and severe environmental degradation in China?" Trump's exclusionary policies targeting foreigners and Chinese nationals may ultimately undermine America's own technological and economic progress. At the same time, it's undeniable that the CCP is actively working to infiltrate democratic societies. Ironically, the Chinese intellectual who wrote the critical article I translated cannot publish under their real name. With family still in China, they face the risk of threats and political persecution. Back in 1989, during the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the Chinese government arrested intellectuals while the PLA turned its guns on citizens demanding freedom and democracy. People gather in Taipei, Taiwan for a memorial rally in remembrance of the Tiananmen Square incident on the June 4, 2025. The lights are arranged in the shape of "8964" (1989 June 4), representing the date of the massacre. (©Sankei by Yoshiaki Nishimi) In the years that followed, Japan and America sought to encourage political reform in China by integrating it into the international order. To do so, they maintained engagement with the Communist Party. Supported by the democratic world, China rose to become an economic superpower. Today, however, it poses a growing threat to regional stability in Asia and to global peace. That said, Japan should avoid embracing the extreme measures seen under the Trump administration, such as cutting ties with China or treating all Chinese individuals as potential threats. Instead, Japan ought to engage with Chinese citizens who share democratic values and acknowledge the challenges posed by the CCP's rule. By working with these allies, Japan can more effectively stand against authoritarianism and safeguard its national interests. Author: Tomoko Ako このページを 日本語 で読む
Winnipeg Free Press
10-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Hong Kong police accuse a mobile game app of promoting armed revolution
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police on Tuesday accused a mobile game application of advocating armed revolution and promoting secessionist agendas, saying that those who publish it or share it with others online may risk violating national security laws. The announcement — the first to publicly denounce a gaming app — indicates that authorities are widening the crackdown that has followed anti-government protests in 2019. Authorities have crushed or silenced many dissenting voices through prosecutions under the 2020 national security law imposed by Beijing and a similar, homegrown law enacted last year. In a statement, police warned residents against downloading the 'Reversed Front: Bonfire' application, saying those with the app installed might be seen as possessing a publication with a seditious intention. They also warned people against providing financial assistance to the application developer, including making in-app purchases. ''Reversed Front: Bonfire' was released under the guise of a game with the aim of promoting secessionist agendas such as 'Taiwan independence' and 'Hong Kong independence,' advocating armed revolution and the overthrow of the fundamental system of the People's Republic of China,' police said. The game application was developed by ESC Taiwan, which did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' request for comment. On the application's Facebook page, the developer posted about surging searches for the game name and a Hong Kong broadcaster's news report about Tuesday's development. According to the application's introduction, players can assume the role of Hong Kong, Tibet, Uyghur, Taiwan or Cathaysian Rebel factions, among others, to overthrow the communist regime. They may also choose to lead the communists to defeat all enemies. The game's website says it 'is a work of nonfiction. Any similarity to actual agencies, policies or ethnic groups of the PRC in this game is intentional.' On Tuesday night, the app was still available on Apple's App Store but not on the Google Play store. The game publisher last month said Google Play had taken the app down because it did not prohibit users from adopting hateful language in naming. Apple, Google and Meta have not immediately commented. After playing the game for about three months, Kuo Hao Fu in Taiwan said he found that its content uses a humorous approach to describe serious political issues. Fu disagreed with the police accusations, saying players can also choose to be part of the force representing China. 'The Hong Kong police's actions demonstrate how Hong Kong's democratic freedoms have been controlled by the Chinese Communist Party,' he said. 'When even this level cannot be tolerated, it completely destroys creative freedom in gaming.' China considers Taiwan its own territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary. Many Taiwanese in the self-ruled island showed concerns about Hong Kong's declining freedoms under Beijing's grip. The Beijing and Hong Kong governments insist the city's national security laws were necessary to return stability to the city following the protests.
Winnipeg Free Press
10-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Taiwan indicts four former members of ruling party accused of spying for China
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Prosecutors in Taiwan on Tuesday indicted four former members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party on charges of spying for China, authorities said. It wasn't clear whether the four had volunteered their services, but the indictments point to China's willingness to exploit any opening to gain confidential information about the island it claims as its own territory. It is alleged that confidential information, including details about the schedules of the president and vice president during their trips abroad, may have been obtained. The four included Huang Chu-jung, a former assistant to a county councilor representing the DPP that has run Taiwan for the past nine years, who was allegedly recruited while on a business trip to China. the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office said. The three others had also formerly served as advisers in the presidential office, the National Security Council and other bodies, the prosecution statement said. The indictments come amid a series of such actions by the Taiwanese government, especially targeting serving and retired military personnel.
