Three pandas from Washington, D.C., returned on the 8th
The 50-year “panda diplomacy” has effectively come to an end
Attention on the Biden-Xi Jinping meeting on the 15th
Three pandas, who have played a crucial role in improving U.S.-China relations as ‘animal diplomats’ and are considered a symbol of China, have returned to China from Washington DC, the capital of the U.S. This move signals the end of the Panda Diplomacy that has been going on for over 50 years amidst the deteriorating U.S.-China relations.
With President Joe Biden of the U.S. and President Xi Jinping of China expected to hold a summit meeting on the 15th, their first in a year, all eyes are on whether the two countries’ relations can improve.
Pandas return to China, U.S. media live broadcasts
According to the Washington Post (WP) and New York Times (NYT), on the 8th (local time), three pandas, fea male Mei Xiang, male Tian Tian, and their cub Xiao Qi Ji, who lived in the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC, left for Qingdao, China that day. They will spend the rest of their lives in the Sichuan Province protection area, designated as a World Natural Heritage site in 2006 and the largest habitat for pandas.
The pandas were transported by truck to Dulles International Airport and took a 19-hour flight on a FedEx Boeing 777. Preparations for the move have been underway for several months to ensure the pandas do not suffer from stress, with two zookeepers and one veterinarian accompanying them. They were prepared with 220 pounds (approximately 100 kg) of bamboo as in-flight snacks.
They left the U.S. as the lease agreement between China and the U.S. ends on the 7th of next month. Officials from the National Zoo explained that under the contract, pandas are to be returned to China when they reach old age or before the cubs reach the breeding age of 4 years. This year, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian are 25 and 26, respectively, and Xiao Qi Ji is 3.
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, who were raised in China, came to the National Zoo in Washington in December 2000, and Xiao Qi Ji was born in August 2020.
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian initially signed a 10-year contract under an official agreement between the U.S. and China and subsequently extended the lease contract twice for five years each. They had extended the contract for another three years just after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, Mei Xiang gave birth safely despite her old age, and they named the cub Xiao Qi Ji, meaning ‘little miracle.’
The pandas’ journey to China was broadcast live on NBC and other networks. The decision to broadcast was made considering the popularity of the pandas at the National Zoo. In particular, Xiao Qi Ji was voted the most popular panda by fans worldwide. The Smithsonian National Zoo, considering this popularity, sells panda-shaped posters, mugs, pajamas, puzzles, and even ice cream.
According to reports, many visitors flocked to the zoo for several weeks before the three pandas left. Some traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles to see the pandas. The Washington Post (WP) reported that some visitors who drove overnight were disappointed to find the panda enclosure empty as the pandas’ departure schedule was not announced in advance.
Panda Diplomacy started in 1972… Uncertain if China will lease again
In response to the return of the pandas, the New York Times (NYT) commented, “The pandas have been a symbol connecting the U.S. and China since they arrived in Washington DC,” and “The era of panda diplomacy has, at least for now, ended.”
The pandas first came to Washington, DC in 1972. At that time, U.S. President Richard Nixon visited Beijing, normalizing U.S.-China relations. Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai promised to lease pandas to Pat Nixon, the First Lady, who was fascinated by the pandas. When the pair of pandas arrived in Washington DC that year and gained immense popularity, China sent pandas to zoos in other regions of the U.S. At one point, there were 15 pandas in the U.S.
The Smithsonian National Zoo paid China $500,000 annually as a panda lease fee. Initially, the purpose of the panda lease was to preserve the endangered pandas, but through Panda Diplomacy, China gained a positive perception of China among the American public.
However, the number of pandas in the U.S. has gradually decreased with the changing U.S.-China relations. Over the past decade, U.S.-China relations have deteriorated. During this time, the lease contracts for pandas have ended, leading to a decrease in the number of pandas in the U.S. Some speculate that the disappearing pandas in the U.S. reflect the current relationship between China and the U.S.
There are four pandas left in the Atlanta Zoo in Georgia, U.S., but none will remain once the lease contract ends next year. The National Zoo plans to request a new pair of pandas from China, but it remains uncertain whether China will accept the request.
China continues to use pandas as a diplomatic tool. In 2019, China leased a pair of pandas to Russia to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was on a state visit, attended the panda handover ceremony at the Moscow Zoo. Qatar also received a pair of pandas last year, becoming the first Middle Eastern country to do so.
Meanwhile, Fu Bao, the panda who has received national love at the Everland Zoo in Korea, will also be returned to China by July next year, according to the contract with China. Fu Bao, born in July 2020, will turn 4 in July 2024.
By. Jung Hyun Jin
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