TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China’s potential loan of giant pandas to Hawaii could become a new example of Beijing’s soft power strategy, while Taiwan faces challenges managing a cultural landmark in Honolulu’s Chinatown.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said Thursday that the city has received informal approval from Chinese leader Xi Jinping to host two pandas at the Honolulu Zoo and has moved ahead of San Francisco in the selection process, per Hawaii News Now. The city is now negotiating final agreements and logistical arrangements with Chinese officials.
While Honolulu officials view the pandas as a potential tourism draw, scholars say they also serve strategic purposes for Beijing. East-West Center Senior Fellow Denny Roy told TVBS that China uses soft power to promote a more favorable image of the country and shift attention away from geopolitical disputes.
Roy said Beijing is seeking to refocus US attention on “something cute” rather than issues such as South China Sea tensions, TVBS reported. “We have to recognize that the Chinese are using this as a diplomatic tool,” Roy said.
The potential panda agreement comes as Taipei works to address problems at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza in Honolulu, a 1.6-hectare property owned by Taiwan’s government. The site has faced criticism from Blangiardi, who in February called it a “blight on our city,” for its deteriorating condition and rising crime, per the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
In May, Blangiardi announced that Taiwan officials had agreed to demolish the Chinatown Cultural Plaza by early next year, per Hawaii News Now. However, he announced on July 8 that he was meeting with a Taiwan delegation for two days to discuss redevelopment plans.
Before the meeting, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Songhe Co., which operates the plaza, recognizes the need for a comprehensive redevelopment plan and will consult with Honolulu officials on the site’s future, Hawaii News Now reported. The ministry said the company will terminate existing leases according to contract terms to protect tenants’ rights and interests.
