Part 5/13:
China's relationship with Southeast Asia is deeply intertwined with its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)—a vast infrastructure and investment plan worth hundreds of billions of dollars. By sending pandas, China demonstrates its commitment to fostering goodwill, especially in strategic countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, which are crucial to regional trade routes like the Malacca Strait.
The move also acts as a soft power strategy, allowing China to cement influence without overt military or economic pressures. Panda diplomacy thus becomes a subtle yet potent method of establishing long-term economic and political bonds, helping China to reclaim its regional stature and influence.