"We have already prepared our zoo for that purpose... we were ready, but because of political intervention we were not able to do that," Ma said one day after his landslide victory in the island's presidential election.

Ma was mayor of Taipei in 2006 when China offered to send pandas to the self-ruled island as goodwill ambassadors following a historic visit to the mainland by Taiwan's former opposition leader Lien Chan.

However, amid pressure from pro-independence supporters who branded it a propaganda ploy, outgoing President Chen Shui-bian's administration eventually rejected the offer.

There was also a dispute between the zoos of the capital Taipei and the southern city of Kaohsiung, which both wanted to look after the animals.

"In the future we would certainly welcome" the animals, Ma said, "but first we have to finish a domestic dispute before accepting the pandas."

China has a long tradition of offering pandas as a way to soften ties with foreign governments.

Taiwan split from the mainland in 1949 but China still claims the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

Related Links
Taiwan News at SinoDaily.com

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