That's simply not true. They do get special protection in China -- you can get executed (and people have been) for poaching a panda.
Also, the Panda loaners are giving about $1 million per year is the usual amount. There aren't 100 panda loaners, more like 2 dozen of them world wide.
I believe the ones that Taiwan would receive are fee-free.
You are ill informed. The total budget for the panda research center is well below 1 million a year. The DC museum spent 10 million each for their 2 pandas. The babies all are the property of China as are the parents. There is an imitial payment to the Chinese govt of 10 million each. CITES requires a 1 million payment annually to the Chinese government which is skimmed by corrupt officials. The program is a scam perpetrated by criminal elements in the Chinese government.