China’s Panda Diplomacy


Dara Lind from Vox explains how adorable giant pandas have been serving as furry diplomats in China’s global political strategy since the 1950s.

“China has given pandas to foreign powers long before the 20th century, but the most current iteration of panda diplomacy began in the 1950s with its gifting of Ping Ping and An An to the Soviet Union. Today, pandas are no longer gifted, but rather loaned to other countries, particularly those with which China wants to develop and strengthen relations.”

Previously from Vox: How Bad Typography Has Ruined More Than Just the Oscars