US embassy in Beijing apologises for comparing Chinese students to playful puppies

‘Spring is here … are you like this puppy desperate to go play,’ says social media post announcing US visa applications for Chinese students had resumed. Weibo chatter included claims of racism, insensitivity and derogatory regard for Chinese by US embassy staff. — SCMP

The US embassy to China has apologised for a social media post that compared Chinese students applying for visas to puppies wanting to play, which was criticised by online users as insensitive and derogatory.

The post, which has since been deleted, contained a video showing a puppy escaping its pen, with a caption that said “spring is here and flowers are blooming, are you like this puppy desperate to go play?”