Politicking Time Bomb: The reversal of “panda diplomacy”

by Andrew Dusek | February 8, 2010 | Montana Kaimin

Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright once said, “The purpose of foreign policy is to influence the policies and actions of other nations in a way that serves your interests and values. The tools available include everything from kind words to cruise missiles. Mixing them properly and with sufficient patience is the art of diplomacy.”

Diplomacy is an intricate yet adaptable art form and the tools of the trade have advanced slightly since Albright’s time at the State Department. Yet it still came as a surprise when news broke that two 330-pound living emblems of peace and docility became the latest tools of negotiation between two tense nations.

Last week, after a process of deliberation, two of the world’s most famous giant pandas were returned to the People’s Republic of China from the United States, generating concern over worsening relations between the two countries. The young cubs, named Tai Shan and Mei Lan, were shipped back to Beijing via the aptly-named FedEx Panda Express and created a media frenzy which can be attributed as much to international politics as to the global obsession with cute and cuddly creatures. These creatures, however, are under threat at home. 

The giant panda is a conservation-reliant endangered species. As of 2007, there were 239 giant pandas living in captivity inside China and another 27 outside the country. While wild population estimates vary, one study shows that there are about 1,590 individuals living in the wild and many experts believe this number is dwindling. Thus, China has begun a rehabilitation program to breed new generations of its unofficial national symbol.

The “panda-monium” over the recall may seem excessive, given China’s justification, but the event carries great significance. Pandas are commonly given as diplomatic gifts and serve as goodwill ambassadors through a practice known as “panda diplomacy.” Panda diplomacy has been an important component of Chinese foreign policy for millennia.

The policy of giving giant pandas as diplomatic gifts dates back to the Tang dynasty when Empress Wu Zetian gave the first set of pandas to the Japanese emperor. In 1972, during President Nixon’s historic visit to China, Mao Zedong presented him with a pair of pandas named Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing to illustrate the warming of Sino–U.S. relations. Soon, pandas were proliferating throughout the world as signs of peace. Between 1958 and 1982, 23 pandas were given to nine different countries in an attempt to strengthen China’s diplomatic ties.

In 1984, China realized it could capitalize on its national treasure and pandas became profitable. China began loaning them out for 10-year periods at a rate of $1,000,000 per year with the stipulation that any panda cubs born to loaner parents were the property of the Republic. It’s under these terms, which also stipulate that offspring must be returned to China when they are two years old, that Tai Shan and Mei Lan are being sent home.

Despite compliance with legal agreements, the significance of timing is undeniable. U.S. relations with China have suffered greatly in recent months.

First, China became outraged by Washington’s plan to sell weapons to Taiwan, which it still considered a renegade province, and threatened to impose sanctions against U.S. companies directly involved in the arms sales. Then came the backlash against Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her criticism of China’s Internet policy, which is no longer simply about cybersecurity or technology, but fundamental freedoms. China even criticized President Obama for his intentions to meet with the Dalai Lama, a figure China accuses of advocating for Tibetan independence.

Chinese cooperation is extremely important to the United States and pacifying the Asian giant is critical to normalizing relations. The country maintains a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and the veto power to stall or derail matters of international importance, such as a climate change agreement and curtailing Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. Catering to the demands and returning the pandas will hopefully appease the Chinese government and improve relations, but it is doubtful that the gesture will translate into the cooperation the United States is anticipating.

Shifts in Sino–U.S. relations are difficult to understand and impossible to predict. So for now, the world can be content to follow Tai Shan and Mei Lan as they adapt to their new home, complete with new bamboo diets and Chinese language lessons. Hopefully, China’s Internet restrictions won’t apply to Panda Cam.

Andrew Dusek is a senior majoring in print journalism and international relations and comparative politics.

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