China needs pandas – level 3

30-01-2025 07:00

Giant pandas are a favorite in zoos because of their playful and unique nature. They bring in large crowds and generate a lot of money for the zoos that host them.

To have pandas, zoos must sign long-term contracts with China and pay over 1 million dollars annually per panda. Pandas only live naturally in China, so they hold both cultural and diplomatic value for the country.

China uses ‘panda diplomacy’ as a tool to build relationships with other countries. However, this is not always positive. In 2023, when US-China relations became strained, China took back its pandas from two American zoos. Experts call this strategy ‘punitive panda diplomacy.’  After negotiations, the pandas returned to Washington, DC, but analysts say this doesn’t guarantee stronger relations. China’s decisions about pandas depend on political circumstances, meaning they could withdraw them again.

Difficult words: strained (difficult or tense), punitive (intended as punishment).

You can watch the video news lower on this page.

What is the term used to describe China's strategy of using pandas as a tool to build relationships with other countries and how does it impact international relations?

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