Spokesman’s restaurant tweet sparks ridicule online

A senior Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has prompted a storm of ridicule online after a late-night tweet where she used restaurant listings to assert Beijing’s claim over Taiwan.

“Baidu Maps show that there are 38 Shandong dumpling restaurants and 67 Shanxi noodle restaurants in Taipei,” spokesman Hua Chunying posted on the social media site late on Sunday.

“Palates don’t cheat. #Taiwan has always been a part of China. The long lost child will eventually return home,” she added.

Hua’s tweet appeared to backfire as thousands of users on Twitter – a site banned in China and only accessible via special VPN software – piled on to poke holes in the top official’s logic.

“There are over 100 ramen restaurants in Taipei, so Taiwan is definitely a part of Japan,” a Twitter user with the handle “Marco Chu” wrote in Hua’s replies.

“Google Maps show that there are 17 McDonalds, 18 KFCs, 19 Burger Kings and 19 Starbucks in Beijing. Palates don’t cheat. #China has always been a part of America. The long lost child will eventually return home,” Twitter user “@plastic receiver” wrote.

Others wondered jokingly if Hua’s logic meant Beijing could place claims on territories far beyond the Asia-Pacific region.

“There are 29 dumpling houses in the Greater Los Angeles area not to mention 89 noodle restaurants,” a person tweeting under the name “Terry Adams” wrote.

“Using Hua’s logic, LA has always been a part of China.” — AFP