Culture
08:35, 21-Oct-2017
China Unknown: Pandamonium
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Pandas are right at the top of the cuteness scale, but they're also an important part of China's global diplomacy. These precocious bears are cultural ambassadors carrying out "panda diplomacy," which refers to China's gifting of pandas to other countries.
"Panda diplomacy" peaked between 1958 and 1982 when China gave 23 pandas to nine countries, most notably two to the United States during President Richard Nixon's administration. This helped open up diplomatic ties between the two countries and created "pandamonium" across the United States.
But are pandas still bringing countries together today?
Get ready to be "in the know" about China's "panda diplomacy."