Later this month President Joseph R. Biden will meet “on the sidelines” with President Xi Jinping of China at the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC).
No one expects anything from this “sideline” meet.
This goes especially for the Chinese, who on Tuesday took back their Pandas from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
Incredibly, no one from the United States government has made any substantive comments about what this means or how it affects bilateral relations between the two superpowers – rather oversimplifying the situation by bureaucrats saying the lease on the rare panda bears “just expired.” It's astonishing given the important significance of “Panda Diplomacy” established by President Richard and First Lady Patricia Nixon's 1972 historic visit to Red China.
The rare, and admittedly cute, panda bears have entertained millions through zoo pen antics of tumbling, wrestling, climbing – and of course famously chewing on bamboo. Originally gifted permanently to the United States and other countries; the agreements morphed into leases of set time periods for new “replacement” pandas (as they died), with many of the Western worlds' countries contracts running out soon. It seems at this time the Chinese do not intend to extend or renew existing agreements as relations with America and its allies continue to deteriorate to new lows.
While it may seem insignificant, such “gifting” diplomacy is a common and important practice since the dawn of civilization. In ancient times, forms of “tribute” were sent to other kingdoms or cities from one another to represent a sign of respect. Such gifts could range from outright payment of treasure, goods or precious items – but eventually as diplomacy developed over time such “gifts” would become representative of the country from which they hailed. A type of spice; weapon; rare mineral; artwork; plant – in some cases things considered exotic or as simple as an ornate box would be exchanged at meetings or sent to leaders as tokens of goodwill.
The very existence of such gift and goodwill diplomacy is to keep open channels of cultural exchange and communication even in times of crisis or forms of hostility between nations. The point? To prevent war.
No one is saying a few pandas at the zoo will prevent the inevitable continuation of conflicts with China on the world stage. But if the Biden administration cannot handle the basics – the simplicity of reaching an agreement on the extension of a lease for zoo animals – what is to be expected from a five minute photo-op sideline meeting of two presidents in San Francisco?
Nothing.
And 50 years of attempting to maintain goodwill through “Panda Diplomacy” has just been casually tossed to the dust bin of history, losing a useful tool in managing relations with an increasingly hostile power found in the People's Republic of China.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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