Animals / panda-diplomacy-in-international-relations
Facts about Panda Diplomacy in International Relations
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Modern panda diplomacy accelerated after Nixon's 1972 visit to China, when Beijing gifted two giant pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, to the United States.
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The practice dates back to the Tang Dynasty, when Empress Wu Zetian reportedly gifted pandas to Japan in the 7th century.
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Recipient countries typically pay an annual fee of around one million US dollars to China for each loaned panda.
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All pandas loaned abroad remain the legal property of China, and any cubs born overseas are also owned by the Chinese government.
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China uses panda diplomacy as a soft power tool, lending giant pandas to foreign countries as symbols of goodwill and diplomatic friendship.