China Loans Two Giant Pandas to Malaysia

Two giant pandas from China finally arrived in Malaysia on Wednesday. They are on loan to Malaysia in commemoration of the 40th year of diplomatic ties between these two countries. They should have been sent earlier in April but the delivery was postponed because of Beijing’s disagreements due to the handling of the disappearance of flight MH370, which had several Chinese citizens on board. The two bears will be kept in quarantine for about one month. Local media were very excited and have reported a minute-by-minute account of the pandas’ arrival.

Easing the tension

The move is interpreted as a means to build ties with Malaysia due to tensions in the region, brought about by several factors, including the loss of flight MH370 on March 8, 2014. That flight, which was bound for Beijing from Kuala Lumpur carried 152 Chinese citizens, more than half of the total passengers. Beijing was very vocal in their disappointment with Malaysia over the handling of the plane’s disappearance, which caused the postponement of the panda’s delivery.

The loan of one of the world’s most loved animals, is seen as China trying to build some allies because of the growing sentiments against China in Southeast Asia basically due to the territorial disputes over the South China Sea, which is believed to have huge reserves of gas and oil under its seabed.

Neighboring countries in South East Asia have been angered by the recent moves of China to assert its claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines expressed strong disapproval over the (alleged) move of China to build an airstrip on one the reefs under dispute and is actually taking China to an international court.

Following the visit of U.S. President Obama to the Philippines, thousands of Filipino and American troops conducted a military exercise. Malaysia openly supported the U.S. naval ship build-up in Asia. They have also grown tired of the criticisms emanating from China with regard to the missing Malaysia Airlines flight.

Hefty price tag

The two 8-year old giant pandas, the newest addition to Zoo Negara, Malaysia’s national zoo, will be housed inside a 1.6 hectare air-conditioned complex. The male and female pandas arrived via a special flight from Chengdu in Southwestern China and were immediately taken to Negara Zoo in Kuala Lumpur. The pandas, named Fu Wa or Lucky Child and Feng Yi or Phoenix, which are on loan to Malaysia for 10 years were welcomed by Palanivel Govindasamy, the Environment Minister of Malaysia. The agreement for the loan of a pair of pandas was actually done back in 2012. During the period that the pair of pandas is in the country, Malaysia will have to pay China one million dollars each year. If the zoo is able to successfully mate them, the panda cubs can be kept by Malaysia.

Panda diplomacy

The giant pandas have been playing a major role in Chinese diplomacy. The first time this was done was during the Tang Dynasty. The practice was revived in the 1950s. China gifted the U.S. with Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing after the visit of then President Richard Nixon. First Lady Pat Nixon donated them to the National Zoo in Washington D.C. During the visit of British Prime Minister Edward Heath to China in 1974 he requested for pandas and China sent a pair to the London Zoo. In succeeding years other countries have received a loan of pandas as a means to strengthen ties with other nations including Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Belgium and France.

This time, the two pandas sent to Malaysia are viewed as a Chinese peace offering.

Image credit: Panda bears cavorting the the Beijing Zoo taken by David Stanley under Public Domain.