During his visit to the Adelaide Zoo on Sunday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced that two “” pandas would be given to Australia to replace Wang Wang and Fu Ni, who will return to China later this year after calling Adelaide home for 15 years.
Author
Yu Tao
Associate Professor in Chinese Studies, The University of Western Australia
The gifting of pandas to other countries has long been a part of Chinese diplomacy. But what exactly is this unique approach to Chinese soft power? Why does it work? And will it profoundly impact Australia-China relations now?
China’s panda diplomacy from Mao to now
Panda diplomacy by the People’s Republic of China began in the 1950s when the newly established communist regime under Chairman Mao Zedong started giving pandas to its socialist allies to strengthen ideological ties and foster diplomatic goodwill.
Ping Ping and Qi Qi, panda “ambassadors”, arrived in the Soviet Union in 1957 , when the Bolshevik party seized power in Russia.
A pivotal moment then came in 1972. Following US President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to Beijing, two pandas, were gifted to the United States. This gesture symbolised a strategic shift in China’s foreign policy towards engaging with Western nations and easing Cold War tensions.
Later that year, Japan also received two pandas, , after normalising diplomatic relations with China.
By 1984, under Deng Xiaoping’s leadership, panda diplomacy , embodying China’s market-orientated economic reforms.
The lease model saw pandas being loaned for significant fees, (A$755,000-$1.5 million), with the proceeds directed towards conservation efforts in China. These agreements also typically trigger projects on panda conservation, fostering scientific collaboration alongside diplomatic relations.
Adelaide’s Wang Wang and Fu Ni, , came to Australia .
Under current Chinese leader Xi Jinping, panda diplomacy has been regularly used to symbolise China’s willingness to strengthen bilateral relations with other nations.
For instance, to mark the 40th anniversary of its diplomatic ties with China. Likewise, as part of the 60th anniversary of the countries’ relations.
coincided with Xi’s visit to Berlin. He and then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel also attended the official opening ceremony of the Panda Garden at Zoo Berlin.
Even the recent tensions between the US and China haven’t derailed panda diplomacy. Last year, the US three pandas – Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and their American-born son Xiao Qi Ji (which means “Little Miracle” in Mandarin) – from the Smithsonian Zoo in Washington to China. But Xi said two new giant pandas would , calling them “envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.”
Why pandas? And what are the challenges?
If it’s not already obvious, pandas are and . Because of their gentle demeanour, pandas have been .
However, there is more to pandas than just their charm. They are distinctly Chinese – they are only found in the wild in China’s Sichuan province – yet hold universal appeal. They have long drawn global , highlighting issues such as climate change. The World Wildlife Fund’s logo, in fact, is a panda, further demonstrating its appeal as a .
Despite their effectiveness as ambassadors, , with narrow mating windows and complex needs. Wang Wang and Fu Ni, for instance, have at Adelaide’s zoo, despite considerable efforts.
Another challenge is the pandas can impose on host countries to meet the stringent requirements for their care.
This raises questions of whether the funding should be directed to other projects that need financial resources instead.
How successful will Li’s panda diplomacy be in Australia?
Li’s visit to Adelaide Zoo – – symbolises China’s willingness to stabilise and improve its relationship with Australia.
Responding to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s during his visit to China last November, Li’s gesture represents a significant diplomatic move after years of frosty relations between the countries.
has shown that panda diplomacy has been relatively effective in building positive attitudes towards Chinese culture, people and government.
However, pandas can only do so much. A indicates Australians remain wary of China’s government, despite improving diplomatic relations in the past year.
And profound challenges are expected to continue testing Australia-China relations, such as , the imprisonment of Chinese-Australian author and between the Chinese and Australian militaries.
As such, some commentators have warned Albanese not to allow Li’s trip to become a “” for China. Ultimately, the true measure of success of any bilateral relationship will hinge on tangible policy changes and mutual trust, beyond the symbolism of panda diplomacy.
Yu Tao receives research funding from the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations. However, the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.
