China’s Panda Diplomacy as Soft Power Strategy

The concept of soft power has been attributed to political scientist Joseph S. Nye, Jr, a term he coined in the 1980s. At the same time, hard power uses military and economic means to persuade the behavior of other countries or actors. Soft power seeks to influence others via attraction or persuasion rather than coercion.

For Nye, soft power is not to be viewed as a weakness, and he believes that neglecting it is a severe mistake. This is not to say that hard power is irrelevant, but that nations must also nurture their soft power.

Hollywood is a prime example of soft power. For decades, the U.S. has utilized its entertainment industry to appeal to people worldwide. South Korea is another notable example of a country leveraging its entertainment industry for soft power influence.

In addition to films, television shows, and music, a nation’s cuisine can also play a role. Countries like Italy and Japan use their culinary heritage to engage with epicureans globally. Other examples of soft power include sports, fashion, art, and literature.

China has a unique approach to soft power — panda diplomacy, which involves sending pandas to other countries to strengthen diplomatic relations. Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), China has offered pandas as a symbol of friendship and goodwill.

In the past, China used to gift pandas to other nations, but now it has shifted to entering loan agreements, enabling pandas to be temporarily housed abroad. This practice allows the Chinese to build guanxi, or personal connections and networks with foreign governments. By engaging in panda diplomacy, China can enhance diplomatic ties while promoting cooperation between nations.

Even though many countries are delighted to receive these beloved animals, panda diplomacy is not without criticism. For one, the practice raises concerns about their treatment and well-being. Keeping pandas is expensive, and they can eat as many as ninety pounds daily.

With such a relatively small population, they are vulnerable, which shows the importance of conservation efforts to protect pandas in their natural habitats rather than using them as diplomatic tools.

A second point of contention relates to the cost of loaning these animals. If the borrower doesn’t gift the pandas, they must pay an annual fee. China charges USD 500,000 a year per panda.

The cost of transporting, housing, feeding, and leasing the pandas can significantly increase. According to an article by Nikkei Asia, pandas are high-maintenance, and the former CEO of Zoo. Atlanta has stated that caring for pandas costs five times more than elephants, the zoo’s second most expensive animal.

In January 2023, a financially constrained Finnish zoo announced it was preparing to send back their pandas much earlier than their fifteen-year contract had stipulated. The pandas had only arrived in Finland in 2018.

However, three months later, the zoo revealed that the duo would remain in Finland. Returning the pandas early could strain diplomatic ties between the host country and China, as it might be seen as a failure to uphold commitments and could potentially lead to tensions between the two nations.

South Korea has recently bid goodbye to Fu Bao, although this time, it was not due to financial constraints. Fu Bao, the country’s first naturally bred panda, was born in 2020 to Ai Bao and Le Bao.

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Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, pandas and their offspring remain the property of China. The treaty mandates that offspring must return to China before age four. Per the treaty’s stipulations, we must, therefore, send Fu Bao, who will turn four in July, back to China.

Relations between South Korea and China have been rocky over the years. For example, both countries have clashed over THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), a U.S. missile defense shield. South Korea installed the system in 2017 as a response to threats by North Korea.

After THAAD’s installation, China became concerned that the anti-missile system could actively conduct surveillance within its borders. This caused Beijing to retaliate by suspending group tours to South Korea and dismantling South Korean supermarket giant Lotte in China.

Fu Bao’s recent return to China, live-streamed for her fans, provoked outrage among her Korean followers. The authorities caught a man in the act as he inserted his finger through one of the breathing holes in her transport container and touched her without wearing gloves.

Additionally, a Chinese journalist faced criticism for neglecting to wear a mask while visiting Fu Bao during her quarantine period. Criticism arose after he shared a photo of himself alongside the panda. He later deleted the post.

This past month, the mayor of a city in the U.S. visited China after receiving a personal invitation to do so. London Breed, San Francisco’s mayor, has stated that she has signed an agreement to bring pandas to the San Francisco Zoo. And that they would come to the zoo after she had obtained the necessary resources.

However, San Francisco is facing a significant budget deficit. The question is whether the city can afford the costs of hosting a panda. Lenders typically loan pandas for three to ten years. By 2027, San Francisco anticipates facing a budget deficit exceeding one billion U.S. dollars.

In a time when many cities and, more broadly, countries are facing inflation, the decision to commit to hosting a panda becomes even more complex. While the allure of panda diplomacy as a tool for fostering international relations is appealing, many nations are struggling financially.

Inflation exerted pressure on budgets, compelling tough decisions about fund allocation. Although panda diplomacy may offer symbolic benefits for relations between China and other countries, a financial strain may cause the host country to think about returning the pandas early. Time will reveal the feasibility of this form of soft power in an age of prevalent economic challenges.