Part 5/12:

However, the advent of the Cold War shifted global dynamics dramatically. With the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 and subsequent Cold War tensions, pandas took on a new purpose. Mao Zedong's regime aimed to shed imperial associations and promote a "clean" image of revolutionary China. Pandas, being non-threatening, apolitical, and relatively new to Chinese cultural history, became ideal symbols for a new national identity.

During this period, China selectively sent pandas to Soviet and North Korean allies, reinforcing political bonds. An intriguing episode involved the breeding attempts of pandas in Moscow and London during the height of Cold War tensions—an unlikely cooperative effort between ideological enemies, aimed at showcasing cooperation beyond politics.