Chen Yunlin, chairman of the Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait, signed an animal exchange accord in Taipei to get the two cuddly rare animals to the city zoo at Muzha.

The zoo is getting ready to show the giant pandas, but a Taipei city councilor is raising objection.

Chien Yu-man, a Democratic Progressive Party councilor, demanded Monday that black bears kept in the zoo be given exactly the same treatment as the two giant pandas.

She insisted that the city government increase next year's budget for the zoo. Otherwise, she threatened, the opposition party would boycott its appropriation bill.

"Everybody knows the giant pandas were given to Taiwan as China's united front ploy," Chien said at the city hall, where she questioned Mayor Hau Lung-bin.

"The Chinese are trying to denigrate us by sending animals that are too expensive to keep," Chien said. "To counter," she added, "we need to give our black bears exactly the same treatment."

Hau countered: "Black bears don't eat bamboo shoots (which are expensive). Giant pandas do. "

But the mayor had to promise Yu that the black bears would be taken good care of.