Part 6/9:
China responded with retaliatory tariffs and increased assertiveness on the global stage. As a result, Chinese trade with the U.S. declined by approximately 20%, emboldening Beijing to adopt a more assertive foreign policy. This shift impacted even symbolic gestures like panda diplomacy.
In 2019, China allowed its panda loans to expire rather than renewing them, effectively ending the leasing arrangement. This move was seen as part of China's broader strategy to assert its sovereignty and economic power, signaling a phase where pandas no longer served as instruments of diplomacy in the same way.