Panda diplomacy
- Panda plushie and Persian cloth
The cuteness and popularity of the panda has been recognized by the Chinese government as well. Interestingly enough, the panda has become part of China’s diplomacy. When Richard Nixon visited China in 1972, for instance, the Chinese government agreed to send two pandas to the United States. It was an important step in the thawing of the bilateral relations between China and the US.
Pandas have been used by China as a diplomatic tool for a long time. The empress Wu Zetian (642-705) sent pandas as a diplomatic gift to the emperor of Japan back in the Tang dynasty (618-907).
In light of public diplomacy, the panda is seen as a way of showing good bilateral ties between China and the recipient country. Obtaining a pair of pandas is not so easy. Though nations do not change their stance on China in order to get their hands on a panda per se, many see receiving a giant panda as something special. Moreover, citizens are often delighted to see a giant panda at the local zoo. Who does not want to go visit these cute animals?
Luckily for many Dutchies, there is the possibility to see pandas living here. In Ouwehands Dierenpark, two pandas named Wu Wen and Xing Ya reside in a large area specifically made for them.
Panda in Ouwehands Dierenpark