Giant pandas arrive in US after Trump-Xi summit: What is China’s ‘panda diplomacy’?

Two giant pandas sent by China arrived at Zoo Atlanta, reviving Beijing’s ‘panda diplomacy’ — using the animals as symbols of friendship and soft power. From diplomatic gifts to long-term loans, pandas have played a role in China’s ties with countries including the US.

Two giant pandas sent by China arrived in the United States on Sunday, reviving Beijing’s long-running use of the animals as symbols of friendship and diplomatic goodwill.

The arrival of giant pandas, named Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, at Zoo Atlanta came days after Chinese President Xi Jinping announced their transfer during his visit to Washington and meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Xi described the giant panda as an “envoy of friendship” between China and the US.

The pandas left Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on a chartered flight early Saturday and arrived in Atlanta after a roughly 16-hour journey. They are expected to remain at Zoo Atlanta for 10 years, according to CNN.

What is China’s ‘panda diplomacy’?

“Panda diplomacy” refers to China’s practice of sending giant pandas overseas as symbols of goodwill and as a means of strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties.

Pandas are native to China and closely associated with the country’s culture and national identity.

Their popularity have made them an unusual but highly visible tool of soft power.

The practice has a long history. Some accounts trace panda diplomacy to the Tang dynasty, when Empress Wu Zetian is reported to have sent two live pandas to Japan in the seventh century, according to think-tank DiploFoundation.

In the modern era, the practice became particularly prominent in the 20th century. China sent pandas to the Soviet Union in the 1950s, while one of the most famous examples came in 1972, when Beijing gifted two pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, to the United States following then-President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China.

Why does panda diplomacy matter to Beijing?

Pandas can offer China a softer channel for building goodwill with foreign governments and publics, particularly when broader diplomatic relations are strained by disagreements or strategic competition, according to DiploFoundation.

The 1972 US panda gift held particular symbolic significance. It followed Nixon’s landmark visit to China and became a highly visible expression of the thaw in relations between Washington and Beijing.

More than five decades later, Xi’s announcement of the new Atlanta pandas also came during a high-profile US visit, adding a symbolic meaning to ties marked by both trade competition and efforts to maintain dialogue amid tensions.

Why China stopped gifting pandas and switched to long-term loans

China's panda policy changed significantly in the 1980s. Instead of permanently gifting pandas to other countries, Beijing shifted towards long-term loan arrangements, partly due to the growing conservation concerns, according to DiploFoundation.

Under the modern system, pandas are generally loaned for fixed periods under agreements that cover their care, research, breeding, and associated costs, according to the think tank.

Cubs born overseas are typically returned to China under the terms of the agreements.

Why are pandas such powerful diplomatic symbols?

Unlike traditional instruments of diplomacy, pandas have a strong appeal among ordinary people.

Their presence allows China to engage the publics and governments of other nations.

The 1972 US panda's arrival also demonstrates the popular appeal of diplomacy.

First Lady Pat Nixon told Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai during her visit to Beijing that she liked pandas after seeing them at the Beijing Zoo, according to CNN.

When Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing arrived in Washington, Pat Nixon led an official welcoming ceremony for the animals at the National Zoo on April 20, 1972.

The pandas drew huge crowds. About 20,000 people visited the zoo on their first day on display, helping trigger what was widely described at the time as a wave of “panda-monium”, as per Anadolu.

About the Author

Bhanu Pratap is a journalist who reports and writes on foreign affairs, India’s foreign policy, geopolitics and strategic affairs. He closely follows diplomatic developments in New Delhi and has a keen interest in defence and national security.<br> <br> Bhanu also focuses on in-depth, interview-based reports and regularly speaking with experts and policymakers to bring perspectives and context to major developments around the world.<br> <br> He is also interested in stories with strong humanitarian angles.<br><br> One such report examined the cases of Indian nationals who were allegedly recruited and forced into Russia’s war against Ukraine. While reporting the story, Bhanu spoke to the families of those affected and documented their experiences. The report was later taken into account by the United Nations in its findings on human rights violations linked to the war in Ukraine.<br> <br> For Bhanu, the zeal to produce meaningful and impactful journalism remains at the heart of his work.<br> <br>He has previously worked with Firstpost, NDTV, Newslaundry and Republic.<br><br> Bhanu studied at the Delhi School of Journalism, University of Delhi. He initially chose science with plans to pursue engineering, influenced by conventional expectations, but fate had other plans and eventually led him to journalism.<br><br> Beyond the newsroom, Bhanu enjoys exploring culture and history and often spends his days off on heritage walks. He is also passionate about travelling, biking and listening to folk music.<br> <br>For tips, reviews and suggestions, you can reach him at bhanu.pratap@htdigital.in.

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