China offers Taiwan giant pandas

[MaineDem]

China has announced a series of goodwill gestures towards Taiwan, including the gift of two giant pandas.

Pandas are considered China's ultimate diplomatic gesture, though it is not clear if Taiwan will accept the offer.

China is also preparing to lift a ban on its tourists visiting the island and to ease restrictions on some agricultural products.

The offer came on the final day of an historic visit to the mainland by Taiwanese opposition leader, Lien Chan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4507681.stm

[rockymountaindem]

1. Panda diplomacy?

Sounds better than all-out war!

P.S. Do I get a panda?

[Toots]

2. I think this is excellent news.

The more the Chinese people visit Taiwan the more they will get to see how they live under Capitalism. Can only create more demand for change in China. I suspect both sides will need to compromise...

[Minstrel Boy]

5. capitalism doesn't mean democracy

China is the 21st Century model of totalitarian capitalism. Chinese needn't visit Taiwan to see what it's like to "live under" the system. There's no such thing as "Communist" China anymore.

[NNN0LHI]

3. Freedom Pandas n/t

[bemildred]

4. Perhaps Mr. Lien was not all that much of a hit.

Perhaps there are disputes within the Chinese leadership about
how to deal with Taiwan. Perhaps economics trumps jingoism.