Panda Diplomacy Between China and the U.S.

China is resuming panda diplomacy by sending pandas to the U.S., but some extreme panda fans in China are unhappy about it due to concerns about mistreatment and nationalistic reasons. The U.S.-China relationship and the well-being of pandas in U.S. zoos are key points of contention.

National Zoo Giant Pandas

The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. bid farewell to its giant pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji as they returned to China. Two new adolescent pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, are expected to arrive by the end of the year. This marks the end of a decades-old connection between the U.S. and giant pandas, with China no longer renewing panda loans to U.S. zoos due to souring relations.