As relations between the United States and China soured in recent years, Beijing made its unhappiness known by recalling its softest power: pandas. 3 bears departed from the National Zoo last year.
However recently The China Wildlife Conservation Association has inked agreements with the San Diego Zoo and the Madrid Zoo Aquarium of Spain “concerning cooperation on the conservation of giant pandas, as part of efforts to step up the protection of the species on a global level.”
The decision to send pandas to San Diego and continue talks with the National Zoo signals that at least for now, China plans to continue its “panda diplomacy”— the lending of giant pandas to countries around the world as a show of goodwill — despite tensions between the two countries.
China, home to the only natural habitat for pandas, has ownership of most of the giant pandas in the world.
Panda diplomacy can trace its roots back to as early as A.D. 685 during the Tang Dynasty, when Empress Wu Zetian presented two pandas as a gift to the Japanese emperor. Between the 1950s and 1980s, China gave the bears as diplomatic gifts to the United States, Russia, North Korea, Japan and other countries. But in 1984, it began lending pandas on renewable 10-year contracts for $500,000 to $1 million a year for each panda. Under the terms of the loans, all cubs born abroad belong to China and are to be sent back to China before they turn 4 years old.
About 1,864 pandas live in the wild today, according to the World Wildlife Foundation. According to China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration, 56 pandas were on loan to other countries in 2023. China has gifted four pandas to Hong Kong, a special administrative region under China’s jurisdiction. In 2008, it gave two pandas to Taiwan, the self-governing democratic island that Beijing considers part of China.
Giant pandas, now classified as vulnerable rather than endangered as a result of protection efforts, once roamed Myanmar and northern Vietnam as well as southern and eastern China. Today, they live only in the mountains of southwestern China.
For decades, the bears have served as goodwill ambassadors that soften China’s image abroad, where Beijing has been criticized for human rights abuses and its increasing authoritarianism.
No leader knows how much pandas symbolize enduring friendship with Beijing more than Russian President Vladimir Putin. China gave Russia two pandas in April 2019 on an unusually extended 15-year loan. Two pandas arrived in Malaysia in May 2014, after a Malaysia Airlines flight disappeared between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.
As for the new round of panda diplomacy with the United States experts say Beijing “hopes this will provide more impetus for a better China-U.S. relationship”.
How do you translate these words and phrases?
cubs – vulnerable – endangered - to recall pandas – to depart from –
protection effort - step up the protection of the species - to ink an agreement –
as a show of goodwill - goodwill ambassador - enduring friendship –
impetus for a better relationship -despite tensions between 2 countries –
relations soured – human rights abuse –to soften China`s image abroad –
What main news does the article bear?
a) that China`s started to use pandas as a diplomatic measure b) new conditions of panda loans c) a new agreement of lending pandas to the US being an effort to mend relationship
Mark True/False.
1. Pandas remain an endangered species.
2. The other country to receive new pandas under the new agreement apart from the US is going to be France.
3. Panda diplomacy dates back to the 7th century AD.
4. Panda cubs can be kept by the country they were born in.
5. Less than 2000 pandas run free today.
6. Southwestern China is the only place in the world where pandas naturally live now.
Keys: детёныши - уязвимый вид - вымирающий вид - отозвать панд - отбыть (уехать) из - меры по защите - вывести на новый уровень защиту биологического вида - подписать соглашение - в качестве жеста доброй воли - посол доброй воли - крепкая дружба - толчок к улучшению отношений - несмотря на трения между 2 странами - отношения испортились - нарушение прав человека - смягчать образ Китая за рубежом
What main news does the article bear? C
True/False.
1. F (Giant pandas, now classified as vulnerable rather than endangered.)
2. F (However recently The CWCA has inked agreements with the Madrid Zoo Aquarium of Spain.)
3. T (Panda diplomacy can trace its roots back to as early as A.D. 685.)
4. F (all cubs born abroad belong to China and are to be sent back to China before they turn 4 years old.)
5. T (About 1,864 pandas live in the wild today.)
6. T (Today, they live only in the mountains of southwestern China.)