Panda Diplomacy on the Move to America... The Secret Behind Xi's Gift to Trump

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that two pandas will soon arrive from China to Atlanta Zoo, calling them "ambassadors of friendship" in a move reviving panda diplomacy, a key tool of Beijing's soft power.

Panda Diplomacy

Xi made the announcement at the White House, ahead of his talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, stating that the pandas "Bingbing" and "Fushuang" will be relocated within days to their new home in Atlanta, calling the move good news and a model of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.

The zoo and China had announced plans to transfer the pandas in April, but Xi's statements provided the first public confirmation of the timeline for their arrival. Atlanta Zoo is working to upgrade its facilities according to guidelines from Chinese experts.

Beijing has used the panda, a cultural symbol of China, as a diplomatic tool for decades by lending them to other countries for set periods. Their presence has sometimes coincided with improved relations, while their return to China has in other cases mirrored rising tensions.

Panda diplomacy between Beijing and Washington dates back to 1972, when U.S. President Richard Nixon visited China during a historic trip that helped thaw relations between the two nations. About two months after the visit, Beijing sent a pair of pandas to the National Zoo in Washington.

Thus, the new gift carries symbolism that goes beyond the animals themselves, as relations between the two powers remain shaped by a mix of competition and dialogue.