China’s Panda Diplomacy:
China recalled its giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei from Japan ahead of schedule amid rising bilateral tensions, highlighting how panda diplomacy is increasingly constrained by geopolitics, nationalism, and animal-welfare controversies.Panda diplomacy refers to the practice by China of gifting (earlier) or long-term leasing (now) giant pandas to foreign countries to build goodwill, enhance cultural influence, and symbolise friendly ties.
