This letter is in reference to the cartoon last week on the front page of The Maui News Opinion section under the title “China sends Pandas to San Diego.” It was questioning the motives of the move as being sinister.

China has pledged a pair of pandas to the San Diego Zoo as “envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American people.”

It has been almost two decades since China has granted new panda loans to America. After the Smithsonian National Zoo returned their pandas on loan this year, Atlanta is only place left in America to see pandas.

Panda diplomacy began in 1972 when First Lady Patricia Nixon, on her visit to China, expressed her fondness of the cute iconic bears. Consequently, pandas were sent to Washington on loan. Since then, over 20 countries all over the world now have pandas.

We should be grateful that this simple gesture of kindness and diplomacy is taking place in today’s world where sanctions, wars and death have become commonplace.

Peter Chin

Kula