US political elites are far narrow-minded than general public when it comes to pandas

Giant panda Mei Xiang enjoys an ice cake at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 22, 2023. Photo: Xinhua

Can cute pandas still be seen in the US? With the recent announcement by the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington that giant pandas "Mei Xiang," "Tian Tian," and their 3-year-old cub "Xiao Qi Ji" will be sent back to China this month, American public opinion quickly seized on the "sensitive issue," reporting with astonishment that if the loan agreement for the four giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta expires next year and the pandas also return to China, there could be no pandas in the US for the first time since 1972.

Some American media reflexively attribute this situation to political factors, claiming that "China appears to be gradually pulling back its pandas from multiple Western zoos." This is pure sensationalism aimed at driving the false narrative that China is no longer friendly toward the US-led West so that to create or strengthen the opinion that "China is becoming more closed." Despite the clear statement from Brandie Smith, the director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, to the media that negotiations are researcher-to-researcher and not politically driven, many mainstream American media outlets appear disinterested in this statement.

The giant pandas "Mei Xiang" and "Tian Tian" arrived in Washington in 2000. During their stay in the US, they gave birth to a total of four panda cubs, including "Xiao Qi Ji," born in 2020. The initial loan agreement signed between China and the US was for a period of 10 years. Subsequently, both parties extended the agreement twice, for five years each time. In 2020, China and the US jointly announced another extension of three years of their cooperation, prolonging it until December 7, 2023.

As the agreement is about to expire, "Mei Xiang" and "Tian Tian" are now in their 20s and are facing some age-related health issues. They are no longer suitable for living abroad. For them, 23 years of life in the US is already a substantial period. Returning to their habitat is obviously a better choice. Anyone who genuinely loves and cares for giant pandas, whether Americans or Chinese, will understand this decision and wish "Mei Xiang" and her family all the best.

Giant pandas are "image ambassadors" of China-US friendship and cooperation and a bridge connecting the people of China and the US. This has never changed and will not change. The giant pandas, including "Mei Xiang" and her family, are beloved by a wide array of American citizens. Long lines outside the panda enclosures at zoos are common, and there are numerous panda-related products. DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda movie franchise has even produced four installments. Meanwhile, several generations of giant pandas have lived in the US, successfully breeding healthy offspring, which reflects the relentless efforts made jointly by China and the US for panda conservation. It should be noted that this situation is generally similar in the US and other developed Western countries.

Over the past couple of years, some giant pandas have returned to China after their loan contracts expired, while others have had their loan agreements extended. This is normal. The loan standards are in place to ensure the well-being of each giant panda, with contract renewals primarily being a technical matter. However, some Western media outlets have been closely monitoring those contracts that are not being renewed, blowing them out of proportion, and using them to tarnish China's "diplomatic style."

Thus, when China gifted or leased giant pandas to the US, some American politicians and media figures sternly warned, with a straight face, that pandas could be China's "united front tool," cautioning everyone to be vigilant. However, when pandas in the US need to return to China due to lease expirations, some argue that this might signify the "end" of China's "panda diplomacy." In short, they seem determined to tarnish the symbol of warmth, friendship, and cuteness represented by the "giant panda," turning the word "Panda" into something negative and unfavorable. This not only fuels anger but also evokes a sense of sadness.

The Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington was the first zoo to receive giant pandas after Nixon's visit to China in 1972. It has witnessed the deepening of people-to-people emotions between China and the US in the course of their friendly interactions. In a heartfelt farewell to the panda family "Mei Xiang," the zoo previously organized a nine-day "Panda Palooza: A Giant Farewell" event. Many residents in Washington DC and visitors from across the US flocked to the zoo to bid farewell to the three giant pandas, creating a heartwarming scene. This is a real-life representation of people-to-people diplomacy between China and the US. Those in the American media who only focus on geopolitics and the anti-China politicians who cannot tolerate giant pandas have a much narrower perspective and a less open heart compared to the average American citizens.

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The disconnect of our Political "Elites" and the problems this causes the rest of us

The more we interact with our political "elites" in elected office or running (or funding) the bureaucracy and special interests that serve them, the more apparent their disconnect from regular people has grown worse. These are not people who have experienced the regular hardship or labor of average people in most communities. Instead, their arrogance, elitism, and disdain for regular people is likely to only cause more problems.

Friends for all seasons - priceless

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People who are friends in good and bad times are priceless

Monday Starters - By Soo Ewe Jin

THE MAS-Air Asia alliance remains very much the talk of Corporate Malaysia. In the many analyses so far, the recurring theme seems to be about how erstwhile enemies are going to work together as friends.

My colleague used the Sun Tzu quote, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer,” to lead off the cover feature on the deal in StarBizWeek on Aug 13. Somewhere in the story, there is this quote by Tony Fernandes: “You don’t have to be an enemy forever, life is too short.”
Image via Wikipedia
Actually, there is not that much that separates the corporate world and politics as far as alliances are concerned.

In politics, it is said that there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. Politicians are fond of referring to their adversaries as “strange bedfellows” but will not hesitate to climb into the same bed if it suits their interests.

In the world of high-finance, bitter rivals can easily sleep on in the same bed, so long as it is good for the bottom line.

For some business people, however, friendship is not a word that exists in their vocabulary. Many good friends who go into business together learn the hard way that years of friendship count for nothing once the business issues get into the way.



A friend told me once that he will never hire me, or ask me to be his business partner, simply because he values our friendship too much.

I once met a man at a hospital as he was dying. He told me how he had pursued wealth and success at any cost. If a family member or close friend went against him, he would not spare them any mercy.

“But look at me now. I do not have long to live. But if I recover, I will surely be a different person. I will seek the forgiveness of those I have hurt. I will forgive others. I will give back to society. I will try not to be so nasty to people,” he said.

I was there to bring him a message from a former business partner who was somehow not able to bring himself to see him personally. He told me to tell him that he did not hold anything against him and to wish him well.

Tears came to his eyes. “I wish he would come and tell me this personally. I have done so much harm to him and his business. But he still thinks of me and is concerned for me.” I told him, “I hope and pray that you will both meet up and forgive each other.” They never did. He died one week later.

I was thinking about friendship this past week after a friend posted on his Facebook this simple reflection: “It has been said that everlasting friends go long periods of time without speaking and never question the friendship. These friends pick up like they just spoke yesterday, regardless of how long it has been or how far away they live; they don’t hold grudges. They understand that life is busy and know that you will always love them.”

Whether we want to admit it or not, sheer numbers of acquaintances in itself is no reflection of the number of real friends we have. Just ask anyone previously in a high position who has retired and he will tell you about the sense of “abandonment” that one feels sometimes.

Suddenly, no one is free for lunch or for teh tarik, one such person told me recently.

This is not to say that it is not possible to have real friends within working relationships. But it can only come about if we are genuinely concerned about the person, and not just the title he or she holds.

And the test of that friendship will come when you are going through a difficult journey, and he is there for you.
● Deputy executive editor Soo Ewe Jin is thankful for friends, near and far, new and old, who bring that special touch into his life, through good and bad times.