Panda Diplomacy

 

Panda Diplomacy

The big black patches giving a starry wide-eyed illusion, their giant heads which seem too big for any creature to carry, their tumbling about like toddlers and, of course, the fluffiness which makes you just want to give them a hug, are some of the many reasons why humans can’t help but think, ‘ah they are just soo cute.’ This overwhelming combination of ‘hedonic mechanisms,’ makes a visit to the zoo to witness an adorable panda bear in person irresistible to many, plus the purchase of a cuddly toy as a memoir from the gift shop at the end – obviously. However, with pandas being native only to China, why is it becoming increasingly easy to visit these furry friends in various locations around the world? Let’s take a quick trip through three panda phases of history.

It began during the Tang dynasty in China, when reigning Empress Wu Zeitan gifted a pair of pandas to the Japanese Emperor, Tenmu. However, modern ‘panda diplomacy’ didn’t begin until the 1950’s. Following the arrival of pandas Su Lin to the USA (brought by explorer Ruth Harkness) in 1936 and Chi Chi to London zoo (from an animal dealer) in 1958, which both sparked huge public interest, China began to realise the potential friend-making tool they had at their fingertips, giving us:

Phase 1: Building alliances in the Mao era

Founder of China’s communist party, Mao Zedong, recognised the Soviet Union and the USA as competitors. In a hope to create a triangular power balance, his panda sharing days began. In 1965, President Khrushchev of the Soviet Union received a friendly panda pair. US president Nixon received the same gift on his visit to China in 1972, a sign of China’s eagerness to establish official relations with the US, and the people of America happily paid to visit their new mascots  – it was a diplomatic success story. British Prime Minister Heath didn’t take long to want in on the panda sharing, requesting the same gift on his visit to China in 1974. Chia-Chia and Ching-Ching soon arrived at London Zoo, influencing the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) logo recognised widely today. Between 1957-1983, a total of 24 ‘goodwill ambassadors’ were given to 9 nations, however, this ‘gifting’ period was short lived, and about came:

Phase 2: State controlled capitalist gift loans

Deng Xiaoping's rose to power in 1978. Soon after, gifts became ‘gift loans’ involving a capitalist lease model based on financial transactions. Prestigious zoos located in nations viewed as beneficial markets to China could lease pandas on loans for ⁓£775,000/yr, plus a portion of merchandising sales (remember that gift shop toy?). It’s fair to say, this was pretty controversial – pandas were declining in population and these loans had nothing to do with conservation, meaning this was against International Trade in Endangered Species legislation. Short term loans were abandoned in 1991, allowing for long-term (10 year) loans which allow for breeding, a plan published by the WWF. In 2008, Sichuan earthquake hit China, extensively damaging panda homing shelters, there was now nowhere for retuning pandas to come home to, or even for the pandas in China to stay, leading to…

Phase 3: Sealing a trade-deal with a panda

Panda gift loans were now offered to a wider group of nations that were undertaking important trade deals with China, such as France, Scotland, Canada and Malaysia (2011-2012). These nations were notably either entering free-trade agreements with China or supplying them with technologies or natural resources (eg. salmon and Land Rovers from Scotland), with Edinburgh zoo currently paying £1 million/yr for its panda pair.

So while these adorable bears may seem nothing but cute, they are in fact important diplomatic symbols, and indication of 'friendly' ties between numerous regions and China.