<
https://theconversation.com/how-chinas-pandas-became-its-most-valuable-diplomats-and-its-vulnerable-children-261845>
"Anthony Albanese’s recent visit to Chengdu’s panda breeding base showed the
enduring power of China’s panda diplomacy.
China has been sending pandas to other countries, sometimes for obviously
political reasons, since the 1940s. The term “panda diplomacy” became
widespread when China gifted two pandas to the United States on Richard Nixon’s
1972 visit.
In a new paper published in
The Pacific Review, we explain the importance of
panda diplomacy for the Chinese state. This importance persists during times of
high political tension between China and other countries that host pandas, such
as the United States. And it persists despite growing concerns about it in
China.
No other animal can match the giant panda’s combination of universal appeal and
national distinctiveness. The global popularity of pandas is a rare source of
soft power for China, inspiring warm feelings and cultural acceptance.
But the flipside of cuteness is vulnerability. Pandas are seen as “national
treasures” in China, and nationalist netizens are becoming upset about the
practice of entrusting them to foreign powers. This is not the only case where
Chinese popular nationalism has been at odds with the official nationalism of
Chinese foreign policy.
In our article, we explore these issues by looking at the Chinese government’s
response to the death of a panda in an American zoo. And we examine how the
panda came to be such an emotionally charged and politically powerful symbol in
the first place."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
