Biden and Xi Jinping meet in San Francisco, marking the end of a symbolic era in US-China relations.
During Richard Nixon’s famous visit to China in February 1972, the US First Lady, Pat Nixon, expressed her admiration for the giant pandas at Beijing’s zoo. Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, in a gesture of goodwill, responded by offering to send some pandas to the US. This moment marked the beginning of what would become known as “panda diplomacy.” Just two months later, the first pair of pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, arrived in Washington, igniting a symbol of improved US-China relations.
At the time, the arrival of the pandas was seen as a hopeful and diplomatic breakthrough between the two nations. The pandas quickly became beloved symbols of the newfound engagement, bringing warmth and friendship to the relationship between the US and China. The exchange of the animals marked the early days of diplomatic normalization between the countries after years of tension and isolation.
However, over the years, the symbolic power of the pandas slowly began to fade. Despite their continued popularity with the public, the political climate shifted as the US and China began to face growing tensions. The optimism that had accompanied the initial panda exchange gradually gave way to a more complex and often adversarial relationship.
In recent years, US-China relations have soured due to issues such as trade disputes, technological rivalry, human rights concerns, and geopolitical tensions. The optimism of the early days of panda diplomacy, symbolizing a positive and cooperative relationship, has been overshadowed by more contentious issues, especially under the administrations of Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
On November 8, 2023, one week before the scheduled meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, the last three pandas at Washington’s National Zoo were prepared for their journey back to China. This moment, while emotionally charged for many, signified the official end of the symbolic role pandas had played in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The remaining pandas in the US, housed at the zoo in Atlanta, are also set to return to China in 2024. With their departure, a chapter in US-China relations that once sparked joy and hope for cooperation is coming to a close. The timing of their return, coinciding with Biden and Xi’s meeting, serves as a poignant reminder of the changes in both the diplomatic landscape and the relationship between the two countries.
As the last of the pandas leave the US, it is clear that panda diplomacy—once a symbol of goodwill—has reached its conclusion. What began as a gesture of friendship between two nations now reflects the complex and shifting dynamics of global politics, leaving behind a legacy of both symbolic significance and a nostalgic reminder of a more optimistic era.
