The People's Republic of China revived panda diplomacy in the 1950s and has become known in recent decades for this practice. From 1958 to 1982, China gave 23 pandas to nine different countries.[1] One highlight of panda diplomacy was the Chinese government's gift of two pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, to the United States in 1972 after President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China[2] (President Nixon reciprocated by sending back a pair of musk oxen).
Upon the pandas' arrival in April 1972, First Lady Pat Nixon donated the pandas to the National Zoo in Washington D.C., where she welcomed them in an official ceremony. Over twenty thousand people visited the pandas the first day they were on display, and an estimated 1.1 million visitors came to see them the first year they were in the United States.[1]
The pandas were wildly popular and China's gift was seen as an enormous diplomatic success, evidence of China's eagerness to establish official relations with the U.S.[2] It was so successful that British Prime Minister Edward Heath asked for pandas for the United Kingdom during a visit to China in 1974. Chia-Chia and Ching-Ching therefore arrived at the London Zoo a few weeks later.[1]
By 1984, however, pandas were no longer used purely as agents of diplomacy. Instead, China began to offer pandas to other nations only on ten-year loans. The standard loan terms include a fee of up to US$1,000,000 per year and a provision that any cubs born during the loan be the property of the People's Republic of China. Since 1998, because of a World Wildlife Fund lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allows a U.S. zoo to import a panda only if the zoo can ensure that China will channel more than half of its loan fee into conservation efforts for wild pandas and their habitat.
Pandas have become important diplomatic symbols, not only to China. In a visit by Hu Jintao to Japan in May 2008, China announced the loan of two Pandas to Japan. The President was quoted as saying "Giant pandas are very popular among the Japanese, and they are a symbol of the friendly ties between Japan and China."[3]
Actions that other countries take with pandas are often seen as laden with meaning. For example, British diplomats worried that a 1964 transfer of a panda from a London zoo to Moscow would worsen Sino-Soviet relations.[4]
In January 2006, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick was photographed hugging a 5-month-old panda cub during his visit to Sichuan Province. The image was widely broadcast by the Chinese media and was purportedly interpreted as a sign that Zoellick supported better relations between China and the United States.[5]
In 2005, Lien Chan, chairman of the Kuomintang, the then-opposition party in Taiwan, visited mainland China. As part of the talks between Lien Chan and the Communist Party of China (CPC), two pandas (later named Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan) were offered as a gift to the people of Taiwan.
While the idea was popular with the Taiwanese public, it proved difficult with the Republic of China (ROC) government of Taiwan, then led by theDemocratic Progressive Party (DPP). The DPP supports Taiwanese independence and opposes unification with the People's Republic of China, and saw the gift of pandas as an attempt by the CPC to draw the ROC government into its "united front".
While several zoos in Taiwan made bids to host the pandas, the ROC government raised objections, ostensibly on the grounds that pandas were not suited to the Taiwanese climate and that Taiwan did not have the expertise to rear pandas successfully. It was widely understood, however, that these were underlain by political considerations by the DPP-led government to maintain its distance from the PRC government - WIKIPEDIA
The agreement was signed by Peninsular Malaysia's Director-General of the Wild Life Protection and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), Datuk Abd Rasid Samsudin and the Secretary-General of CWCA Zang Chunlin this afternoon.
The signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and a Member of the Permanent Committee of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Political Bureau Committee, He Guaqiang.
The two giant pandas to be loaned to Malaysia for a period of 10 years represented a symbol of the 40th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations to be celebrated in 2014.
Based on the experiences of neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Singapore, Malaysia will receive the pair of pandas within one year from the date of signing of the agreement. - NST
Despite the world recognized Chinese 'Panda Diplomacy' tradition which dates back to the Tang Dynasty our learned Opposition MP from the Democratic ACTION Party YB Chong Eng (yes, she is a Chinese) appears oblivious to the significance of this Eastern diplomatic gesture.
Chong Eng passed snide remarks against the Malaysia-China 'Panda Diplomacy' in the Malaysian Parliament on Wednesday (during a debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill), questioning the rationale for PM Najib to agree to nurture the Chinese Pandas in Malaysia. Similar sinister remarks were also heard from another Chinese Opposition lawmaker from PKR YB Tian Chua.
Their argument that the funds allocated for the upkeep of the Pandas could be put to better use appears nothing more than mere populist statements but the underlying message appears strange.
Basically the CHINESE Opposition lawmakers (those from DAP and PKR) appear to be hell bent on preventing better relations between China and Malaysia.
But why would any Malaysian (particularly those of Chinese origin) be so eager to scuttle or sabotage attempts by both Kuala Lumpur and Beijing to warm diplomatic relations which has been cemented since 1974?
While both nations are looking forward towards celebrating the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2014, the Opposition lawmakers antics in the Malaysian Parliament is rather suspicious.
Certainly its not just about the two pandas from the People's Republic of China. It appears as though the Opposition are trying hard to please their foreign masters who most probably fear China's growing influence in our region.
But then again, could we blame the desperate lot who would want their supporters to believe that the Sun would rise from the West after our next General Election, the 13th since we gained Independence from the British in 1957.
God Bless Malaysia... and the People's Republic of China's 'Panda Diplomacy'.
1 comment:
apa nama panda2 tu?
azizah & azizan???
Post a Comment