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The listening exercises in Business Spotlight Übungsheft (p. 5) are based on the article “Diplomacy is not black and white” (Names & News, p. 8). Here, we provide you with the audio file and transcript.
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Diplomacy is not black and white
He Hua is not yet four years old but already a superstar in China. She has millions of followers on social media, and fans travel across the country to see her, even though she spends a lot of her time just sitting around eating bambooBambusbamboo. He Hua is a giant panda at the Chengdu researchForschungResearch Base of Giant Panda breedingZuchtBreeding. For those who can’t make the trip to Sichuan Province, online “panda cams” are the next best thing.
Pandas are a be a big deal (ifml.)eine große Sache seinbig deal, and not just in China. They’re the best example of Chinese soft power. By sending its national animal to other countries, China emphasize sth.etw. hervorhebenemphasizes close political or economic tieVerbindung, Beziehungties. As U.S.-China relations soursich verschlechternsoured, the number of pandas in American zoos fell significantly. In 2023, campaigners whip sth. upetw. aufpeitschen, aufheizenwhipped up anti-U.S. sentimentStimmungsentiment, (falsely) accusing Memphis Zoo of mistreating its pandas. But, in February 2024, China announced it would again send pandas to the U.S., as what President Xi Jinping called “envoyGesandte(r)envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.”
Strictly speaking, China doesn’t “lend” its cuddlyknuddeligcuddly ambassadorBotschafter(in)ambassadors — panda deals are commercial transactions. The bears and any offspringNachkommenoffspring remain Chinese property. He Hua, however, will probably not be going overseas. She’s considered small for her age and in need of protection. The Chinese authorities will not want to get on the wrong side of the panda fans.