China’s refusal to extend or renew agreements with the U.S. over a Richard Nixon-era scheme to host pandas in the United States could symbolize increasing diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
The National Zoo in Washington D.C. has been holding Panda Palooza: A Giant Farewell, hinting at the end of a 50-year exchange program. Two other zoos across the nation have already lost their pandas, echoing a similar trend in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Beijing lends out 65 pandas to 19 nations through cooperative research programs. The pandas are returned home in their later life, with cubs sent to China when they are around 4 years old. In recent years, however, pandas have left zoos in San Diego and Memphis. A departure from the capital would leave only Atlanta with the giant bears.
Dennis Wilder, a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues, told Fortune that it marked a trend in “punitive panda diplomacy” given rising tensions between China and the West. He suggested that the former could be “trying to send a signal,” given Beijing’s belief that “NATO and the United States are lining up against” the country.
Pandas Reach The Senate
Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman even raised the panda issue in the Senate last week. Referring to China’s purchases of American farmland, Sen. Fetterman said: “The Chinese government and other U.S. adversaries should own zero, zero agricultural land in our country. I believe that.”
“I mean, they’re taking back our pandas. You know, we should take back all their farmland,” he added.
Rising discontent in China over alleged U.S. mistreatment of its pandas may have spurred the diplomatic conflict. Le Le, a male panda on loan to the zoo in Memphis, died suddenly in February having lived much of his life in Memphis. His unexpected passing prompted outrage on Chinese social media, with a petition even launched demanding his female companion, Ya Ya, be returned home immediately.
An official Chinese delegation visited Memphis and found no mistreatment, while the zoo itself also sought to limit the outrage, to no avail. Ya Ya was returned to China in April following the expiration of the loan agreement.
Agreements have been extended at the last minute before, and there’s hope that another late extension is granted. U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet at next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, where a deal may be reached.
In July, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng said he would do his “utmost” to ensure pandas will be in Aspen, Colorado, at the city’s Security Forum, sparking hope that pandas may remain in the U.S.
For now, though, China’s loaned pandas are set to return home in the coming months.
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist based in Canada. He has written for the Western Standard, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo, and has covered notable events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
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