Taipei stalls gift pandas again

Taiwanese Premier Frank Hsieh Chang-ting yesterday poured cold water on the growing panda fever on the island, hinting the two animals offered by the mainland as a gift might not be allowed in.

'According to my judgment, the possibility of the two pandas coming to Taiwan is very low, given the views of the Washington convention and [opposition of] environmental conservation activists,' he said.

He also called on the local media not to play up the reports about the pair of giant pandas, whose selection by the mainland as a gift for Taiwan has created panda fever on the island since last year. But Taipei is reluctant to accept the gift.