{"id":2067862,"date":"2023-10-15T07:19:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-15T11:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/american-zoos-return-giant-pandas-to-china-ending-the-regimes-panda-diplomacy\/"},"modified":"2023-10-15T07:21:58","modified_gmt":"2023-10-15T11:21:58","slug":"american-zoos-return-giant-pandas-to-china-ending-the-regimes-panda-diplomacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/american-zoos-return-giant-pandas-to-china-ending-the-regimes-panda-diplomacy\/","title":{"rendered":"US Zoos Send Giant Pandas Back to China, Ending &#8216;Panda Diplomacy&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Famerican-zoos-return-giant-pandas-to-china-ending-the-regimes-panda-diplomacy%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2067862&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<p>Get ready to say goodbye to the\u2062 giant pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoo! In December,\u2062 the last three pandas will be returned to China,\u2063 leaving the \u200bzoo without \u2062these beloved \u2063creatures for the first time \u200cin\u2062 50 years.<\/p>\n<p>Back \u2063in 1972, after President Richard Nixon&#8217;s\u2062 historic visit to China, the National Zoo in Washington D.C.\u200b became a \u200csymbol of warming \u200bU.S.\u2013China relations through &#8220;panda\u2063 diplomacy.&#8221; China would loan\u2064 giant\u2063 pandas to\u2063 the zoo, showcasing their friendship. But now, this era seems to\u200b be \u200bcoming to an end.<\/p>\n<p>Not only is the Smithsonian National\u2063 Zoo sending back their pandas, but other \u2062zoos in the United States and Western countries are also returning these cuddly creatures to China. It appears that the world is derisking and decoupling from the communist regime, and \u200dthe\u200b era of\u2064 &#8220;panda diplomacy&#8221; as a tool of soft power is fading \u2063away.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related\u2062 Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/chinese-panda-on-long-term-loan-to-thailand-dies-suddenly-5207017?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Chinese Panda on Long-Term Loan to Thailand Dies\u2062 Suddenly<\/h3>\n<p>            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">4\/20\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/chinese-panda-on-long-term-loan-to-thailand-dies-suddenly-5207017?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/china\/many-countries-return-giant-pandas-chinas-panda-diplomacy-seems-to-come-to-an-end-5110174?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Many \u2063Countries Return Giant \u200bPandas, as\u200b China&#8217;s \u2018Panda Diplomacy&#8217; Comes \u2064to an End<\/h3>\n<p>            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">3\/13\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/china\/many-countries-return-giant-pandas-chinas-panda-diplomacy-seems-to-come-to-an-end-5110174?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Once the pandas leave\u200c the National Zoo, there\u2062 will only be four remaining in the United States, all located at \u200cthe Atlanta \u2064Zoo. However, two of them are also scheduled to be returned to China\u200c early next\u200d year, \u200dand the other\u200d two will \u2063likely follow suit before the end of next year as their lease agreement expires. There are \u2063no\u2064 discussions \u200cabout extending or renewing the \u2063lease.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>If \u200bthe \u2062lease is not renewed, it will mark the\u2064 first time in \u206250 years \u200cthat American zoos \u2062will be without giant\u200d pandas. This marks \u200dthe end of an \u200cera known \u2062as &#8216;Panda Diplomacy&#8217;.<\/p>\n<h2>\u2018Panda Diplomacy\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>The \u200bfirst pair of pandas were gifted\u2064 to the National Zoo in 1972 after \u2064President Nixon&#8217;s\u2063 visit to China. This gesture symbolized the opening of doors between\u2063 the Chinese communist regime and the international\u2063 community. The pandas, named Lingling and Xingxing, were adored by former First Lady Pat Nixon\u2062 during her visit\u2062 to \u2062the Beijing Zoo. This\u2063 led to \u2064the communist \u200cregime using pandas \u200das a tool of &#8220;Panda\u2062 Diplomacy&#8221; to\u200c create\u2064 a friendly\u2062 image \u200band soften its international reputation.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>For the next ten years, gifting giant pandas became a common\u200d practice \u2064for \u2064the CCP&#8217;s diplomacy as heads\u200b of Western countries visited China. Countries such as \u200cJapan,\u200b France, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Spain, \u2062and Germany all received these adorable \u2064creatures as a diplomatic gesture.<\/p>\n<p>However, the era of\u2064 free panda\u200d gifts came\u2064 to an end\u2063 in 1984. \u2064China implemented a rental model, leasing pandas to foreign zoos for short-term \u200dexhibitions. This later\u2064 evolved into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-scott-calls-for-investigation-into-u-s-adversaries-control-of-our-supply-chains\/\" title=\"Rep. Scott Calls for Investigation Into U.S. Adversaries\u2019 Control of Our Supply Chains\">long-term leases<\/a> for collaborative research projects, lasting around 10 years and costing $1 million per \u2062year. If a panda \u200bgave birth to a\u2064 cub, \u2062the rent would increase by $600,000, and the cub would be returned to China when it reached 3 or 4 years old.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Pandas also became a form of political\u2062 leverage. Countries like \u2063Australia,\u2063 France, Canada, Scotland, and the Netherlands received pandas as part of deals involving nuclear technology, offshore drilling technology, salmon\u200b supply, and medical equipment.<\/p>\n<h2>Pandas as Political \u2064Leverage<\/h2>\n<p>However, pandas were not only used as gifts but also as a means of punishment. In 2019,\u200c amid the trade war between the \u2064United States and China, the CCP \u2063took back\u2064 pandas from the San \u2063Diego\u2062 Zoo. Similarly, when the Netherlands \u2064restricted \u2063the sale\u2063 of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/american-zoos-return-giant-pandas-to-china-ending-the-regimes-panda-diplomacy\/\" title=\"US Zoos Send Giant Pandas Back to China, Ending 'Panda Diplomacy'\">advanced semiconductor processor chip equipment<\/a> to China, the CCP reclaimed a giant panda from a Dutch zoo.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>As tensions between the United \u200bStates and\u200b China continue to rise, all the giant pandas\u2064 from zoos in Memphis and San\u200d Diego have already been returned \u2064to\u200b China. The United Kingdom and Australia are\u2064 also set to return their pandas\u2062 soon.<\/p>\n<p>According to Feng \u200bChongyi, an associate professor at the University of Technology, Sydney, the \u200cfriendship between\u2062 the Chinese regime and\u200d the United \u2062States no longer exists. The negative view \u2062of China held by about 80 \u200cpercent of Americans, combined with the \u2062high cost of maintaining pandas, has diminished their political value\u200c in Washington.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Giant\u200b pandas ingest up to 12.5 kilograms \u200b(28 pounds) of bamboo daily.\u200d (Jcwf\/Wikimedia \u200cCommons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>With\u200c all pandas leaving American zoos, \u2062it is \u2063clear that \u200bthe CCP&#8217;s\u2062 panda \u200ddiplomacy has lost its significance. The\u200c structural confrontation between\u2063 the United States and \u2064China\u2064 shows no signs of resolution, making it\u200c unlikely for &#8220;panda diplomacy&#8221; to make a comeback\u2064 anytime soon.<\/p>\n<p>As we bid farewell to these \u200cadorable creatures, it&#8217;s \u2062evident that the \u200dera of panda diplomacy is coming to a close.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n    <em>Song \u2064Tang and Yi Ru contributed \u200dto this report.<\/em>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u200dHow did hosting pandas serve as a symbol of goodwill and cooperation between \u200cnations engaged in diplomatic relations with\u2063 China?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ies that were \u200cwilling to engage in diplomatic relations with China would be granted the privilege of hosting \u2064pandas. This was seen as a sign of goodwill and cooperation between nations. The pandas \u2062served as a symbol of friendship and provided an \u200dopportunity for cultural exchange between China\u200c and the international\u200b community.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, pandas became a popular attraction at \u200czoos around the\u200b world. \u200dPeople \u2063flocked to see\u200d these magnificent creatures, and they played a\u2062 crucial role in\u200c conservation efforts.\u2063 By showcasing giant pandas, zoos were able to raise \u200bawareness about \u200cthe importance of\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-passes-resolutions-curtailing-protections-for-two-endangered-species\/\" title=\"House approves measures limiting protections for endangered species.\">protecting endangered species<\/a> \u200dand their\u200c natural habitats.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>However,\u2062 in recent years, the tide has started to\u200d turn. \u200bAs the world becomes more aware\u2063 of China&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/just-like-the-good-old-days-joe-biden-invades-syria-with-convoy-of-us-troops-and-choppers-on-first-full-day-as-president\/\" title=\"Just Like the Good Old Days: Joe Biden Invades Syria with Convoy of US Troops and Choppers on First Full Day as President\">human rights abuses<\/a> and aggressive\u200c foreign policies,\u200d many countries are reevaluating \u2064their \u200brelationship with\u200d the communist regime. Returning\u2064 pandas to\u200d China has become a\u200b form of protest against these actions and a way \u200bto distance\u200b themselves from the regime.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>    \u200b   <\/p>\n<div class=\"border-quote mt-4\u2062 ml-4 w-full max-w-[500px] \u2064text-[16px] leading \n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After 50 years, the Smithsonian National Zoo will bid farewell to its last three giant pandas in December. &#8220;Panda diplomacy&#8221; was initiated at the zoo in Washington D.C. following President Richard Nixon&#8217;s visit to China in 1972. This departure marks the end of an era for the zoo&#8217;s panda population.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":428,"featured_media":2067863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2067862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2067862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/428"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2067862"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2067862\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2067863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2067862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2067862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2067862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}