Pandas and Politics: What is Panda Diplomacy?

panda diplomacy is the official name for how and why pandas became common in zoos around the world. The reason for calling it “diplomacy” was that these exchanges and gifts occurred through China’s diplomatic efforts to bolster its international image. The People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949. To extend an olive branch, the country took the lead Mao began loaning the endangered giant pandas to foreign zoos and countries to become animal ambassadors. Many of the pandas were originally given to communist countries because China was interested in maintaining those ties. These included North Korea and the former Soviet Union.

What are the origins of panda diplomacy?

Although the term “panda diplomacy” refers to the mid-20th century, the idea of ​​giving away pandas is much older. The Tang Dynasty, from 618-907, has documented cases of panda gifts. This is not unusual, as before animal welfare gained traction, many nations gifted native animals to visiting dignitaries. For example, Charlemagne, the former Holy Roman Emperor, received animals from Africa and Asia, including an Asian elephant.

What role did President Nixon play?

We have a president Nixon as a thank you for bringing the first pandas to the USA. Nixon’s visit to China in February 1972 was a pivotal moment, as relations between the two countries had been sparse for more than two decades. At dinner, First Lady Pat Nixon mentioned how much she loved pandas. They were told that China would be happy to give them something, and with that the United States received two pandas from Beijing. The pandas were sent over by cargo plane. In return, China received some musk oxen.

Pandas of the United States

The change in the panda policy was made in 1984 by Deng Xiaoping, who made the pandas a loan or contract rather than a gift. The first offer for this was in the United States at the 1984 Olympic Games, where Los Angeles was offered two pandas on loan for $50,000 per month per animal. This money and future funds from the pandas’ loan went toward their protection.

Part of the agreement to house the pandas in United States zoos was to provide information, money and breeding for their maintenance. This also included supporting the breeding of giant pandas in order to stabilize their numbers. In 2016, they were downlisted from endangered to vulnerable due to population growth in the wild. At the time of the change, there were just over 1,800 giant pandas in the wild.

While some zoos, such as the San Diego Zoo, had a longer contract ChinaOther organizations, including the Columbus Zoo and the Toledo Zoo, ran from 1996 to 2019 and had shorter contracts of just one year.

How Panda Diplomacy Reflects Our Relationship with China

The presence of pandas in zoos in the United States can be a good indicator of our relationship with China and our relations. Pandas are on loan from China and can be recalled at any time. Whether the United States keeps these animals shows whether diplomatic relations between the United States and China are good. In 2010, for example, pandas Tai Shan and Mei Lan, although born in the United States, were returned to Beijing after Barack Obama met with the Dalai Lama.

As of early 2024, the Atlanta, Georgia zoo became the last zoo to house pandas, with the contract expiring at the end of 2024. Since China decided not to renew the contract, the four pandas Lun Lun, Yang Yang and their daughters Ya Lun and Xi Lun, born in 2016, will return to China.

The Washington Posts The editorial by Lonnie G. Bunch III and Ellen Stofan summarizes the situation, stating: “Pandas are an important source of cultural diplomacy – using art, science and history to help nations find common ground in which Hope to build on our shared humanity to create a more peaceful world. The pandas were a bridge between the American and Chinese people.”