Panda diplomacy leads to millions going to China, with very little oversight

[Craig Nigrelli]

AMERICAN ZOOS HAVE SENT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO CHINA, UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, IN WHAT SOME HAVE REFERRED TO AS “PANDA DIPLOMACY” OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES.
IN EXCHANGE, FOR THE HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY, CHINA SHIPS PANDAS, IN PAIRS, TO AMERICAN ZOOS, SUCH AS THE NATIONAL ZOO IN WASHINGTON AND THE
THE SAN DIEGO ZOO.
THE MONEY, BY U.S.LAW, IS SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT ON PROTECTING PANDAS IN THE WILD. BUT A NEW YORK TIMES INVESTIGATION OF THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF DOCUMENTS AND INTERVIEWS WITH DOZENS OF WITNESSES, INDICATES, CHINA HAS SPENT A LOT OF THAT MONEY ON THINGS SUCH AS ROADS, APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND MUSEUMS. IN ADDITION, CHINA HAS REFUSED TO EXPLAIN WHERE ALL THE MONEY GOES.
U-S FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICES OVERSEES THE AMERICAN PAYMENTS. IT HAS RAISED CONCERNS WITH AMERICAN ZOO OFFICIALS, EVEN FROZE PAYMENTS ON A FEW OCCASIONS. BUT ZOO MANAGERS WORRIED IF THEY CUT OFF PAYMENTS TO CHINA, THE CHINESE WOULD WANT THEIR PANDAS BACK, COSTING THE AMERICAN ZOOS : VISITORS, MEDIA ATTENTION, SALES OF MERCHANDISE AND ESSENTIALLY REVENUE. SO, FEDERAL REGULATORS ALLOWED THE PAYMENTS TO CONTINUE.
FORMER FISH AND WILDLIFE OFFICIAL KENNETH STANSELL IS QUOTED AS SAYING “THERE WAS ALWAYS PUSHING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE U.S SHOULDN’T ASK ANYTHING,” AND THAT THE CHINESE WOULD OFTEN SAY IT SHOULD NOT BE ANY CONCERN HOW THEY WERE USING THE MONEY.
THE INVESTIGATION ALSO FOUND THAT, THE PANDAS ARE OFTEN USED FOR BREEDING MORE SO THAN CONSERVATION EFFORTS. IN TRACKING FINANCIAL REPORTS, THE TIMES FOUND THAT $86 MILLION DOLLARS HAS GONE FROM AMERICAN ZOOS TO A PAIR OF ORGANIZATIONS RUN BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
THE INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED THAT SOME OF THAT MONEY WAS USED TO HELP TRANSFORM A PANDA BREEDING CENTER IN WESTERN CHINA INTO AN ATTRACTION.
ONE DIRECTOR OF A FOUNDATION REPRESENTING AMERICAN ZOOS SAYS CHINA FELT THAT AS LONG AS THE AMERICANS GOT THE PANDAS, THE U.S. SHOULD NOT TELL THEM HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY.
THE TIMES EXAMINED RECENT CONTRACTS AND FOUND NO MENTION BY THE NATIONAL ZOO IN WASHINGTON OR THE SAN DIEGO ZOO OF CHECKING TO SEE HOW CHINA IS SPENDING THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. AMERICAN REGULATORS, WHO HAVE BEEN TO CHINA, SAID THEY DID SEE **SOME EVIDENCE** OF CONSERVATION ON THEIR TRIPS TO THE COUNTRY BUT THEY ALSO TOLD THE NEW YORK TIMES THE PANDAS HABITAT IS SHRINKING AND THE PANDAS HAVE LESS TERRITORY TO ROAM AND ARE OFTEN ISOLATED.