The return of panda Ya-Ya from Memphis Zoo back to China may be an indicator of tensing U.S.-China relations.
Pictured above: Ya-Ya the Giant Panda eats bamboo in her habitat at The Memphis Zoo, November 1, 2022. Image credits: REUTERS/Karen Pulfer Focht.
Back in April, a female giant panda named Ya-Ya returned to China after spending two decades at the Memphis Zoo. Concerns about Ya-Ya’s well-being in the United States had been raised by animal rights activists, despite statements from spokespeople for both nations. While the Chinese were relieved to have their furry friends back, the absence of pandas from the U.S. had deeper implications.
In 1972, Chairman Mao promised President Nixon that he would send a pair of pandas to the U.S. Since then, China has been engaging in “panda diplomacy,” sending the animals to countries on good terms with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). While politics were not explicitly cited as the reason, the return of the pandas seemed to convey China’s dissatisfaction with the U.S. Giant pandas, which are native only to China, are star attractions overseas, generating a significant chunk of the zoos’ revenue.
Fast-forwarding to the fall, China did not renew the panda deal with the National Zoo, signifying potential tensions between the CCP and the U.S. government. While the gesture might have been merely political, it took a toll on animal lovers across America. In an effort to keep spirits up, the National Zoo hosted a goodbye called the Panda Palooza, a panda-themed extravaganza. In early November, amid many tears, a family of three, including a cub known as “little miracle,” boarded a FedEx Boeing 777 called the Panda Express, heading to a nature preserve in Sichuan Province. Americans were heartbroken by the beloved pandas’ departure.
But there is good news too–the latest update suggests that the pandas might return to Washington and San Diego. Xi Jinping, China’s leader, was informed that many Americans had been sad to see the pandas go. He described the bears as “envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples” during a dinner in San Francisco. After the event, a U.S. official mentioned that while sending the pandas back pose “no cost” to China, it would be “symbolically important” in the U.S.-China relationship.