Panda peace offering

Giant pandas Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan play in a breeding base in Ya'an, south-west China's Sichuan Province in February 2006 Photograph: Chen Xie/AP

Taiwanese breeder You Xueyin feeds giant pandas at a the base in Ya'an Photograph: Chen Xie/AP

A People Liberty's Army (PLA) soldier guards the two giant pandas at the Bifeng Gorge Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Ya'an Photograph: Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan are seen at the Bifeng Gorge Base before their send-off Photograph: Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images

Taiwan press photographers take pictures of Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan at the Bifeng Gorge Base Photograph: Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images

Workers transport giant panda Tuan Tuan in a cage Photograph: Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images

Workers at the panda base in Ya'an wave at the pandas inside the truck as they are escorted by Chinese paramilitary police officers to their send-off Photograph: Andy Wong/AP

Chinese students and workers hold placards baring the names 'Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan' during the send-off ceremony Photograph: Andy Wong/AP

Girls dressed as panda bears get ready to perform during the ceremony marking the delivery of two panda bears from China to Taiwan Photograph: Nir Elias/Reuters

Chinese officers wave as they bid farewell to the giant pandas after being loaded inside a aircraft in Chengdu Suhangliu International Airport Photograph: Andy Wong/AP

Security personnel escort the cages containing two Panda bears at the airport Photograph: Reuters

Balloons decorate the sky during a ceremony in Ya'an marking the delivery of two panda bears Photograph: Nir Elias/Reuters

Ethic Qiang performers cheer after the farewell ceremony held for giant pandas Photograph: China Photos/Getty Images

A forklift unloads a carton containing a giant panda from a charter jet upon its arrival at Taoyuan airport, northern Taiwan Photograph: Patrick Lin/AFP/Getty Images