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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pandas fly to Taiwan from China | Pandas fly to Taiwan from China |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Two giant pandas have begun their journey from China to Taiwan, a gift from Beijing to a self-governing island it considers part of Chinese territory. | Two giant pandas have begun their journey from China to Taiwan, a gift from Beijing to a self-governing island it considers part of Chinese territory. |
| Fortified by a breakfast of carrots and steamed buns, the pandas left the mountains of Sichuan for the airport in the provincial capital, Chengdu. | Fortified by a breakfast of carrots and steamed buns, the pandas left the mountains of Sichuan for the airport in the provincial capital, Chengdu. |
| Hundreds of security guards and armed police have been deployed on the route. | Hundreds of security guards and armed police have been deployed on the route. |
| A BBC correspondent says the high security reflects the sensitivity of any event that involves Taiwan. | A BBC correspondent says the high security reflects the sensitivity of any event that involves Taiwan. |
| Roads to Chengdu airport have been closed and a flight chartered specially for the pandas. | Roads to Chengdu airport have been closed and a flight chartered specially for the pandas. |
| The pandas are China's gift to Taiwan amid warming ties. | The pandas are China's gift to Taiwan amid warming ties. |
| But the gesture is not welcomed by all in Taiwan. The pandas were first offered three years ago, but were rejected by the president at the time. | But the gesture is not welcomed by all in Taiwan. The pandas were first offered three years ago, but were rejected by the president at the time. |
| That decision was reversed after Taiwan's nationalists - the Kuomintang - won the presidency in May. | That decision was reversed after Taiwan's nationalists - the Kuomintang - won the presidency in May. |
| Since then, diplomatic and economic links have improved. Last week daily passenger flights, new shipping routes and postal links between the two sides were established for the first time in six decades. | Since then, diplomatic and economic links have improved. Last week daily passenger flights, new shipping routes and postal links between the two sides were established for the first time in six decades. |
| China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, but China claims sovereignty over Taiwan. | China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, but China claims sovereignty over Taiwan. |
| Steamed buns | Steamed buns |
| The security around the pandas reflects the sensitivity of the issue | |
| Hundreds of security guards and armed police were on watch at Shuangliu airport in Chengdu, Sichuan province, ahead of Tuesday's operation to move the panda bears, reports the BBC's Chris Hogg in Beijing. | |
| The four-year-old bears are called Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan - a reference to "tuanyuan", the Chinese word for "reunion". | The four-year-old bears are called Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan - a reference to "tuanyuan", the Chinese word for "reunion". |
| A 20-strong team of animal experts has been in Chengdu, Sichuan province, for 10 days to prepare for their relocation. | A 20-strong team of animal experts has been in Chengdu, Sichuan province, for 10 days to prepare for their relocation. |
| On the trip, they have taken steamed corn buns, fresh bamboo and even motion sickness pills for the bears. | On the trip, they have taken steamed corn buns, fresh bamboo and even motion sickness pills for the bears. |
| On arrival, the bears will be quarantined for a month before being taken to their new glass and rock enclosure in Taipei zoo, where they are expected to attract about 30,000 visitors a day. | On arrival, the bears will be quarantined for a month before being taken to their new glass and rock enclosure in Taipei zoo, where they are expected to attract about 30,000 visitors a day. |
| Military threat | Military threat |
| The transfer has attracted huge publicityDespite the publicity surrounding China's gesture, some in Taiwan caution that its significance should not be overstated, our correspondent says. | The transfer has attracted huge publicityDespite the publicity surrounding China's gesture, some in Taiwan caution that its significance should not be overstated, our correspondent says. |
| The island's President Ma Ying-jeou recently called again on the mainland to withdraw hundreds of missiles that are pointing at Taiwan. | The island's President Ma Ying-jeou recently called again on the mainland to withdraw hundreds of missiles that are pointing at Taiwan. |
| For many Taiwanese the pandas are a nice gesture, but one that fails to address their main concern - the military threat from their more powerful neighbour. | For many Taiwanese the pandas are a nice gesture, but one that fails to address their main concern - the military threat from their more powerful neighbour. |
| Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party criticised the panda deal. | Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party criticised the panda deal. |
| "Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan means a union, which perfectly matches Beijing's goal of bringing Taiwan into its fold," he said. | "Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan means a union, which perfectly matches Beijing's goal of bringing Taiwan into its fold," he said. |